A retired Bangladesh Supreme Court judge was arrested near the northeastern border with India in Sylhet, reportedly trying to escape the country, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced late Friday.

This news came shortly after Awami League leader ASM Firoz was arrested at his home. In a message to reporters, the BGB headquarters confirmed that former Supreme Court appellate division judge Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik was detained while attempting to cross into India via the Kanaighat border in Sylhet.

According to Prothom Alo, former Supreme Court judge Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik was held at a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) outpost until midnight, as confirmed by the camp’s in-charge.

Bangladesh has plunged into turmoil following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government, which was forced out of power on August 5 amidst violent protests over job quota reforms. Hasina fled to India, leaving a power vacuum filled by the military.

The country had already been gripped by anti-government protests, which had resulted in over 500 deaths since mid-July. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge as the Chief Adviser of the interim government on August 8.

Since Hasina’s departure, several leaders of her deposed regime, including senior ministers, have been arrested, many facing charges of murder. The Bangladesh Army reported that hundreds of Awami League leaders and others are being sheltered in cantonments for their safety.

Among the first to be arrested were former law minister Anisul Huq and former private sector adviser Salman F Rahman, who were caught allegedly trying to flee from Dhaka by boat.

Additionally, several members of Hasina’s cabinet, including former foreign minister Hassan Mahmud, former social welfare minister Dipu Moni, as well as lawmakers, Awami League leaders, and recently dismissed military and civil officials, have been detained.

Those arrested also include sacked major general Ziaul Hassan, who had headed the government’s telecommunications system, and Chittagong Port Authority chairman rear admiral Mohammad Sohail, who once served as spokesman for the elite Rapid Action Battalion.

Even journalist couple Farzana Rupa and her husband Shakil Ahmed have been arrested amidst the ongoing crackdown.