Hundreds of activists, university teachers and politicians formed a human chain in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Sunday demanding the release of a veteran journalist who was detained last month on sedition charges. Police arrested Shahrier Kabir, a columnist, author and documentary film maker, under an emergency law on November 22 after he returned from what he said was a professional trip to India.

Arpon Kabir, a 10-year-old son, also lined up with the protesters to appeal for his father's freedom.
He held a sign that read: "Shahrier Kabir is my father, I want him back."

Bangladesh's Home Ministry has said Kabir, 50, was arrested for carrying out seditious acts abroad.
"Kabir's activities outside the country ran counter to national interest, state security and also were seditious," a home ministry statement said earlier.

Police had detained Kabir at Dhaka airport after he had spent two weeks in Calcutta where newspapers said he was collecting information on alleged attacks against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. Bureau Report