Barrister Mainul Hosein has been sent to jail "for defaming" journalist Masuda Bhatti on television.

This afternoon, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Kaisarul Islam passed the order in a defamation suit which was filed in Rangpur.

Detectives produced Hosein before court around 1:00pm. Hosein was arrested last night over the defamation lawsuit filed in Rangpur.

The accused, who now stands accused in at least six such cases after passing a comment on television, pleaded for bail. His plea was turned down.

Hosein is a former caretaker government adviser who was involved in the formation of the major political alliance Jatiyo Oikyafront ahead of elections.

Hosein, publisher and editorial board chief of The New Nation, is facing at least six cases. He got an ad interim bail on Sunday in two defamation cases filed in Dhaka and Jamalpur.

Bhatti herself sued Hosein for defamation in one of the cases in Dhaka.

Hosein secured bail on Sunday in two defamation cases filed in Dhaka and Jamalpur.