Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today termed the Kurigram journalist's arrest and his imprisonment illegal and demanded immediate inquiry into the matter.

"It is illegal. Such enforcement of law contradicts the constitutional commitment of the rule of law," the TIB said in a press statement over the issue, adding that it was an insult to freedom of press.

People will lose their confidence in the administration and in the government if an immediate inquiry is not conducted into the incident and accountability of all involved is not ensured, the statement read.

Ariful Islam Rigan, Kurigram district correspondent of online news portal Bangla Tribune was arrested from his house was sentenced to one-year imprisonment early today.

The imprisonment of a journalist by a mobile court at midnight is illegal and a violation of the freedom of press, the TIB said.

In the statement, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said there is a specific law and high court directives on how to run mobile courts.

According to those, it is illegal to pick up a citizen from his house in the middle of the night and conduct a mobile court in this manner, he said.