BNP front leader caught with Tk 1.5mn cash in Lakshmipur released after verification

He is a district-level leader and the cousin of BNP candidate Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee

The leader of a BNP affiliate, who was detained with Tk 1.5 million in cash in the Lakshmipur-3 constituency, has been released after verification by the Electoral Inquiry and Adjudication Committee.

District and Sessions Judge Tahrina Akhter Nowrin, who is also a member of the committee, said the money was found in the car owned by the Badrul Islam Shyamal, an activist of the party’s peasant wing Jatiyatabadi KrishaK Dal, around 8pm at Jhumur Chattar on Wednesday.

The leader was later released after verification, she said.

Shyamal is a supporter of his cousin Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, who is contesting in the parliamentary polls from Lakshmipur-3 on the BNP ticket.

He is a senior vice-president of the party’s district unit and owns a medicine store. Anee’s election posters were pasted on his car.

He was given half an hour after his detention to show cause as to why he was carrying the cash.

"The money was meant for my polling agent’s expenses. The administration verified it and released the money. There is no reason for confusion,” Anee said.

Assistant Police Superintendent Rezaul Haque confirmed that the court found the money as legitimate election funds.