Thakurgaon Jamaat ameer held with Tk74 lakh at Saidpur Airport, not Tk50 as initially reported
The Jamaat leader fell ill after being detained and was taken to Saidpur 100-bed Hospital for treatment and later to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Belal Uddin, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami's Thakurgaon district unit, has been detained with Tk74 lakh in cash at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari, just a day before the 13th national election and referendum.
It was initially reported that he had been detained with Tk50 lakh. The amount turned out to be Tk74 lakh after the counting of the cash, confirmed Saidpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Karim, adding that legal proceedings are ongoing.
Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed that Belal was held at the airport earlier today (11 February). Further investigation is underway, he added.
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Police said they were also examining several documents recovered with the cash at the time of his detention, which has sparked discussion on social media.
According to police, the Jamaat leader arrived at Saidpur on a US-Bangla Airlines domestic flight at 10:55am today. At the time, it was reported that his bag reportedly contained more than Tk50 lakh.
In a video recorded at the time of detention, Belal is heard saying that his home is in the Hajipara area of Thakurgaon town and that he is the son of Dabirul Islam. He also identified himself as a teacher at Thakurgaon Shalanda College.
When asked how much money was in his luggage, he said, "There is more than Tk50 lakh there. This is money from my garments business."
However, police at the time said the bag contained Tk40 lakh.
In response to the question of how the cash-filled luggage that was seized at Saidpur Airport managed to pass through Dhaka Airport, the Executive Director of Dhaka Airport, Group Captain Ragib Samad, said, "When the matter was informed to the airport customs authorities, they raised no objection. Besides, there are no restrictions on transporting money on domestic routes."
Meanwhile, the Jamaat leader fell ill after being detained at the airport and was later taken to Saidpur 100-bed Hospital for treatment.
At around 1:47pm, he was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
A large number of law enforcement personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incidents, and an army vehicle escorted the ambulance to the hospital under tight security.
He was later referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Also, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has described the detention of its Thakurgaon district ameer at Saidpur Airport with a large amount of cash as a "staged drama" and a "politically motivated act," asserting that the money was entirely legal and intended for business purposes.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said today (11 February) that the detained leader, whom he described as a senior and responsible figure in the party, had been travelling from Dhaka to Saidpur for business reasons.
"As banks were closed and due to business transaction requirements, he was carrying some cash with him. While passing through the domestic terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, he obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the appropriate authorities before boarding the flight. Yet upon arrival in Saidpur, a drama was staged," he said while speaking at an emergency press briefing at the party's central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka.
Asked about the matter, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the matter is subject to investigation by law enforcement agencies.
From a legal standpoint, he said, "If it is not proven that the money is stolen, a bribe, or from any other illegal source, then merely carrying cash is not a crime."
He added, "If a large sum of money is found in someone's possession, only the police can determine whether it is illegal. Whether the money is stolen, looted, or linked to any unlawful transaction is also a matter for investigation. After questioning and inquiry, the law enforcement agencies will be able to clarify the issue."
He further said, "Generally, an individual does not carry such a large amount of money, although a businessperson may do so for specific reasons. However, the recovery of a huge amount of cash just before an election naturally raises suspicion."
Locals catch Jamaat leader 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.
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 area this afternoon.
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.
However, Cumilla North district Jamaat Ameer Prof Abdul Matin 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."
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.
Jamaat leader runs away amid allegations of bribing voters in Sirajganj
Mostaq Sarkar, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami's Ward-3 in Jhaoil Union, reportedly ran away after being chased by locals while allegedly attempting to bribe voters in Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj-2 constituency.
The incident occurred this morning in Mainakandi village, and a video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.
In the video, Mostaq is seen handing cash to an individual when bystanders began filming the scene. He then ran away.
Addressing the incident, Shahidul Islam, assistant secretary of district Jamaat and chief election agent for Jamaat-nominated candidate Muhammad Jahidul Islam, said, "Before elections, leaders and activists often handle various expenses, including those for polling centres. The cash could have been related to these costs. The leader may have run out of fear, and the allegation of vote-buying is not true."
However, Saidur Rahman Bachchu, district BNP general secretary and chief election agent for BNP candidate Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, said, "I have seen the video of the Jamaat leader running while handing out money in Kamarkhand. Similar incidents are occurring elsewhere."
He urged the election administration to take immediate action against those involved.
In a separate incident in the same upazila, another Jamaat leader from Ward-7 of Raydaulatpur Union was held by locals allegedly with Tk71,000 in cash.
A video of the incident has been widely circulated on social media.
Details regarding the incident were not immediately available.
