Bangladesh politician freed

A prominent opposition politician in Bangladesh, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, has been released from jail on the orders of the High Court.

Mr Chowdhury is the political secretary to the head of the Awami League chief, and former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

He was detained last month by the army, which is leading an operation across the country to combat rising crime.

Police said at the time that Mr Chowdhury would face a number of charges.

The authorities say the cases against him have not been withdrawn, and that he will have to face prosecution.

After his release, Mr Chowdhury told the BBC that he had not faced any physical torture while in custody, but he said he was tortured mentally during a fourteen hour interrogation by police.

He said the charges against him were politically motivated.

(From the newsroom of BBC World Service)