Cumilla Jamaat leader held with Tk 2 lakh, candidate calls it a plot

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Maulana Habibur Rahman Helali, was detained with Tk 2 lakh in Muradnagar of Cumilla, on Wednesday, February 11. 

The Executive Magistrate and police later took him into custody from the spot.

Helali, the chief coordinator of the Chhaliakandi polling station for Jamaat candidate Yusuf Sohel in Comilla-3 constituency, was detained in the Chhaliakandi area after locals grew suspicious of his movements. During a search of his personal car, two bundles of Tk 1,000 notes were recovered.

Muradnagar Upazila Assistant Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdur Rahman confirmed the incident to Jago News. 

He said the Executive Magistrate and police were sent to the scene after the discovery. 

Since Helali was not caught red-handed distributing the money, the matter will be handled by the Judicial Magistrate.

Jamaat candidate Yusuf Sohel alleged that the incident was politically motivated, claiming that BNP supporters arranged for Helali to be handed over with the money. “Helali had come to Chalikandi with voter slips. But the BNP people systematically orchestrated this trap. We strongly condemn and protest this action,” Sohel said.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the source of the money and the circumstances of the arrest.