Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Belal Uddin Pradhan was arrested Wednesday morning at Saidpur Airport after police recovered Tk 74 lakh from his possession, authorities said.
Belal Uddin arrived on a NovoAir flight from Dhaka around 11am, just a day before the national election. Saidpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Karim said the money was recovered after searching his bag. “Legal procedures are underway,” he added.
The arrest came following intelligence reports, and the military initially detained Belal Uddin at the airport before handing him over to police.
Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam earlier said Belal Uddin claimed to be carrying Tk 50 lakh. The exact amount was confirmed after counting the cash in the presence of officials. Earlier intelligence reports had suggested his bag contained around Tk 40 lakh, prompting his detention.
Abdul Mannan, Thakurgaon district Jamaat secretary, accompanied Belal Uddin at the airport but was not arrested.
