Former Hasina adviser, journalist Iqbal Sobhan detained

Police on Wednesday detained Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Observer and former information adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka on Wednesday for questioning.

He was taken into custody from the DBC News office in Mohakhali.

Md Aktar Hossain, deputy commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the detention to Daily Waadaa.

“He has been taken into custody for questioning over certain matters,” said Hossain, adding that Chowdhury had not been formally arrested in connection with any specific case.

Police have yet to disclose the matters over which he is being questioned.

Chowdhury was previously stopped at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on April 15 while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. He was scheduled to fly to Jeddah on a Saudia flight, but authorities turned him back without publicly disclosing the reason.

Chowdhury has largely stayed out of public view since Hasina's government was toppled in a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024.

He made a rare public appearance at the National Press Club in September that year to attend the funeral prayers of journalist leader Ruhul Amin Gazi.

Chowdhury currently serves as editor of The Daily Observer and previously served as information adviser to Hasina during the Awami League government's tenure.

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