A team of detective branch police caught him from his Laxmipur house at about midnight. He was sent to jail and will be produced before court today, police said.

An arrest warrant was issued against him 10 days ago on charge of rape of a housewife.

He was arrested after a letter signed by BNP central office secretary Mafidul Hasan Tripti suspending his primary membership of the party for 'tarnishing its image' reached here.

The BNP leader was escaping arrest by using political influence.

The rape victim went to police to record a case but was denied. She then lodged a complaint with Metropolitan Magistrate Khodeza Khatun On March 21.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that Shawkat and his aides Mantu Kabiraj (quack) and Wali raped her at the house of Anju Begum on the night of March 8.

The victim alleged that the rapists also threatened her with death when she was under treatment at the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

The gangrape sparked protests by people in Rajshahi city in Rajpara.

Rajshahi Mohila Parishad and people of Rajpara upazila in separate memorandums submitted to the Director General of Health Directorate, Director RMCH and Rajshahi Police Commissioner alleged that Shawkat's goons in league with a pro-BNP doctor at the OCC threatened the victim.

In the memorandums they demanded a judicial probe into the incident and withdrawal of the pro-BNP doctor from the OCC.

Women leaders, lawyers and journalists were not allowed to talk to the victim at the OCC, they said in the memorandums.

Police arrested Wali and Anju Begum earlier.