Dhaka: Detective Branch (DB) arrested journalist Shawkat Mahmud, who is also BNP chairperson’s adviser,in front of Samarai Convention Centre in the capital’s Panthapath area on Tuesday morning.

After the arrest, he was taken to the DB headquarters.

Shawkat Mahmud, the former president of National Press Club, was arrested in three cases for arson attacks on vehicles, vandalising vehicles and crude bomb blasts in Jatrabari area, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Muntasirul Islam.

A press conference of Adarsha Dhaka Andolan, an electoral platform of pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party professionals, was scheduled to be held at Samarai Convention Centre in the morning.

After facing obstacles from police, the body held the conference in front of the convention centre.

But police foiled the programme and picked up Shawkat Mahmud, member secretary of the organisation, from in front of the convention centre at about 11:15am.