Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday told The Business Standard that CID had picked up Bangla daily Prothom Alo's reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams for questioning, but he has since been released.

"A case has been filed and it will be dealt with accordingly," he said.

He said since it was a cyber-crime related matter, which the CID deals with, the law enforcement agency had picked him up for questioning. 

He added that the journalist had been released after questioning.

National daily Prothom Alo's Savar correspondent was picked up from his house by people claiming to be from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday (29 March).

A case under the Digital Security Act was filed against him by one Golam Kibria.

Wishing anonynimity, an official of the CID's Cyber Police Center told TBS that they would seek a few-days remand over the case.

Shamsuzzaman Shams was picked up from his home in the Ambagan area adjacent to Jahangirnagar University in Savar at around 4am by people in plain clothes claiming to be from the CID.

"Some senior officers of the CID came from Dhaka, and picked up Shamsuzzaman from his residence around 4 am. I do not know the names of the officials," Ashulia Police Station Sub-Inspector Raju Mondal confirmed to The Business Standard.

However, no statement was received from the CID in this regard.

Witnesses said about 16 people in three cars came in front of Shamsuzzaman's house around 4am on Wednesday.

After he was picked up, they took Shamsuzzaman, Jahangirnagar University Chief Security Officer Sudipta Shaheen and a security guard, to an eatery on the university premises, where they had their Sehri meal.

They went back to Shamsuzzaman's house around 5:30am. One of the three cars had no number plates, witnesses said.

The owner of the house where Shamsuzzaman lived was called by people who introduced themselves as the CID. They told him there were objections regarding a report done by Shamsuzzaman, so he is being taken for questioning.

The Ashulia station SI said the officers then prepared a seizure list and took his signature there.

Speaking to The Business Standard,  Jahangirnagar University Chief Security Officer Sudipta Shaheen said, "Since I am the university's chief security officer, the officers approached me. They said a female colleague of mine from the university was in danger, which is why they came here. They took me to Shamsuzzaman's house in that connection. Later, they arrested Shamsuzzaman."