Bangladesh newspaper editor arrested in raid

Ruling party officials recently accused Mahmudur Rahman's pro-opposition daily of inciting violence. Last Modified: 11 Apr 2013 07:00

Al Jazeera's correspondent, who we are not naming for security reasons, reports on the arrest from Dhaka

Police in Bangladesh have arrested the acting editor of a pro-opposition newspaper on various charges. Mahmudur Rahman was arrested in a raid on the office of the Bengali-language Amar Desh newspaper in Dhaka on Thursday. Security officials would not immediately say what charges would be brought against him. The Ekattor TV station said the editor would face eight charges, including sedition and cybercrime. Police told local media that Rahman would appear before a Dhaka court later on Thursday. Leaders of the government's ruling party have accused the daily of inciting violence during recent political unrest. Amar Desh is the leading opposition paper in the country. Its circulation and online audience have increased significantly due to recent investigative reports and its anti-government stand. Human rights groups have accused the ruling Awami League party of harassment of Rahman and his paper. Government officials filed charges including defamation and sedition against him in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Banglaboipora