Police say Belal Uddin, the chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami unit of Thakurgaon district, has been detained with “a bag of cash”. He was taken into custody at the Saidpur Airport, according to Sheikh Jahidul Islam, superintendent of Nilphamari police.

Belal is a resident of Thakurgaon town’s Hazipara and a teacher at the Salandar Islamia Kamil Madrasah in Thakurgaon.

The police superintendent said Belal arrived in Saidpur at 10:55am on board a US-Bangla flight carrying the bag.

Police conducted a special operation based on a secret tip-off.

A huge amount of cash was recovered after searching Belal’s bag. The amount was initially estimated at Tk 5 million. Law enforcers are still counting the money, he added.

“He [Bela] is being questioned about the source and purpose of this money. He said this money is for his business purposes. He, however, has not been able to show any documents of the source of this money.”

Officer Jahidul said documents and other evidence related to Belal are being collected as part of the investigation. Details will be made available after the processing is complete, he said.