Detectives yesterday arrested a former leader of Hefajat-e-Islam from the capital's Jatrabari area over the Islamist outfit's countrywide mayhem in March.

The arrestee, Azharul Islam, was organising secretary of the previous central committee of the Qawmi madrasa-based organisation.

Iftekhairul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed his arrest to The Daily Star.

Later, he was produced before a Dhaka court that placed him on a five-day remand in a case filed over acts of violence in Jatrabari area.

Police officials said Azharul was accused in several cases filed with different police stations following the nationwide violence in March this year and the mayhem at Shapla Chattar in the capital in 2013.

The Islamist outfit indulged in violence across the country, protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in late March.