Dhaka: Hours after a Dhaka court sentenced him to three years’ jail in a graft case, plainclothes police arrested BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah on Tuesday evening, reports the UNB.

The BNP leader was arrested from the city’s Banglamotor area around 6:30pm, Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said.

Masud said Rafiqul Islam was arrested as a warrant had been issued for his arrest as he was convicted in a graft case.

Earlier in the day, Judge Sheikh Golam Mahbub of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 sentenced Rafiqul Islam to three years’ jail in a graft case filed for amassing illegal wealth.

The court also fined him Tk 50,000 and will to serve three months more imprisonment in case of failure to pay the fine.

The court issued the arrest warrant for his arrest as he did not appear before it today (Tuesday) while delivering the verdict.

In 2001, the Anti-Corruption Commission asked Rafiqul Islam a notice to submit his wealth statement.

But, he did not submit the statement. Later on January 15, 2004, ACC official Liakat Hossain filed a case accusing Rafiqul with Uttara Police Station.

After investigation, the official submitted charge-sheet against Rafiqul on November 30.

Taking the charge-sheet into cognizance, the court started its trial on November 14, 2017.