Police detain Jamaat leader at Saidpur Airport, seize Tk 7.4 million in cash

Police say the cash was found in his bag during an operation at Saidpur Airport

Police have counted Tk 7.4 million recovered from the bag of a Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami leader detained at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari.

Authorities are set to brief the media on Wednesday evening.

Saidpur Police chief Rezaul Karim said the details would be shared at a press conference scheduled for the evening at the Nilphamari SP’s office.

According to police, Belal Uddin Pradhan arrived at Saidpur at 10:55am on a US-Bangla Airlines flight.

Acting on a tip-off, police carried out a special operation and searched the bag he was carrying, recovering the large sum of cash.

Police said Belal was questioned about the source of the money and its intended use.

He claimed the cash was linked to his business activities, but has so far failed to produce any documents to substantiate the source, according to police.

After being detained, Belal reportedly fell ill and was taken by ambulance to a Saidpur 100 Bed Hospital, before later being transferred to Rangpur.

Belal is a resident of Hajipara in Thakurgaon town.

His father is Dabirul Islam.

He is a teacher at Thakurgaon Salandar Islamia Kamil Madrasa.

Meanwhile, Jamaat Publicity Secretary Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair described the incident as “motivated”.

He said, “I have money in my pocket -- why should I be arrested for that? Law enforcers are asking strange questions.”