Bangladesh reporter held in raid

Bangladesh has been under military rule since January

A Bangladeshi journalist who has detailed alleged human rights abuses has been arrested, his wife has said.

Tanseem Khalil was picked up by plainclothes police who took his passport, office equipment and papers.

Mr Khalil writes for Dhaka's Daily Star newspaper and runs his own blog, as well as reporting for CNN and for the US-based Human Rights Watch.

Bangladesh has been in a state of emergency since violence marred the build-up to elections in January.

Mr Khalil's wife, Sharmin Afsana Suchi, told the AFP news agency that police entered their home to arrest her husband without producing an arrest warrant.

"They said it was emergency time and they can arrest anyone they want," she said.

"They used abusive language and searched the whole house before taking him away."

Human Rights Watch said Mr Khalil had been a "prominent voice in Bangladesh for human rights and rule of law", and the group was concerned for his safety.