The country's highest court has given the Bangladesh government less than a week to defend its arrest of an activist on charges of anti-state activity, the defendant's lawyer said Sunday. Shahriar Kabir, a writer and civil rights advocate, was arrested and jailed last month under a special law that permits police to arrest people without a warrant. Kabir's brother Kalandiar Kabir had asked the court to throw out the charges and order his release.
The court responded Saturday by directing the home ministry to issue an explanation of the arrest by Dec. 8 and defend the move as being made with "lawful authority," said Kabir's lawyer Shawkat Ali Khan.

A court official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the decision.
Kabir was arrested after a visit to neighboring India, where he met Indian human rights activists to discuss violence on minority Hindus in Bangladesh. Bureau Report