Jamaat leader held allegedly with Tk2 lakh in Cumilla

Local residents in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla allegedly recovered Tk2 lakh from a vehicle belonging to a Jamaat-e-Islami leader and handed him over to police this afternoon (11 February).

The Jamaat leader, Maulana Habibur Rahman Helali, is the chief coordinator of the Shaliakandi polling station for Jamaat-nominated candidate Yusuf Hakim Sohel in the constituency. He was reportedly stopped and held by locals in the Neyamatkandi.

Witnesses claimed the cash was found during a search of his vehicle. Police later took him into custody and informed the assistant returning officer. At the time of filing this report, he was being questioned at the police station.

According to local sources, Habibur Rahman Helali arrived in Neyamatkandi from Dhamghar in a private car to visit a party worker injured in an accident. He reportedly left the car in the grounds of a local madrasa. At that time, some local BNP leaders and activists allegedly searched the vehicle and claimed to have recovered Tk2 lakh. 

A video of the incident has since circulated widely on social media.

In the video, a bag is seen behind the car, with two bundles of Tk1,000 notes partially covered by a thin blanket on top of it.

However, Habibur Rahman Helali denied the allegations, insisting he did not possess such a large sum. 

He said he only had a small amount for the food expenses of Jamaat-e-Islami agents working at the polling station. He claimed the BNP had framed him by placing extra money in his car.

Cumilla North district Jamaat Ameer Prof Abdul Matin also dismissed the allegation as "fabricated", claiming that local activists of the Awami League and BNP conspired to malign the party amid "an unfavourable electoral climate."

Muradnagar Upazila Jamaat Amir ANM Elias echoed the same claim, saying, "Since we do not have a designated person in that union, Habibur Rahman Helali of Dhamghar Union was given responsibility for Chaliakandi Union. This morning, he was visiting our election agents when BNP members, pretending to be locals, detained him."

He went on to say, "The Jamaat leader had no money with him. Those who detained him allegedly placed a bag containing Tk2 lakh in his car. This entire incident is a conspiracy. Jamaat-e-Islami is not involved in such activities."

However, local BNP leaders dismissed the Jamaat leader's account as "baseless and fabricated." 

Muradnagar Upazila BNP joint convener Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan told Prothom Alo, "Jamaat is trying to undermine fair voting by distributing money across Cumilla-3 constituency. This morning, one of them was caught red-handed giving out cash in an area by local people. We believe Jamaat is conspiring to sabotage the election by creating a disruptive environment."

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdur Rahman said, "He was not caught red-handed with the money during our operation, so a mobile court could not be conducted. Police and a judicial magistrate are looking into the incident."

Muradnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasan Jamil could not be reached for comment despite repeated phone calls.