The High Court today granted ad-interim bail to former president of Jatiya Press Club Shawkat Mahmud for six months in two vandalism and arson cases.

The court also issued two separate rules asking the government to explain in four weeks as to why Shawkat, also an adviser to BNP chairperson, should not be granted regular bail in the cases.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain came up with the orders and rules following two separate petitions filed by Shawkat seeking bail in the cases.

The cases were filed by the police with Motijheel Police Station on February 1 this year on charges of vandalism, arson and explosion during hartal called by BNP led alliance, Shawkat's lawyer M Masud Rana told The Daily Star.

He also said Shawkat, who was detained on August 19, cannot get release from jail following the HC orders of bail, since he is arrested in 18 other similar cases.