The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained a local BNP volunteer leader in Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila on Wednesday night, February 11, with Tk 5 million in cash. The arrest took place near Khepupara Girls’ Secondary School around 10 p.m. The detainee, Md Kajol Mridha, is the joint convener of the Kalapara municipal unit of the BNP’s volunteer wing and a member of the election management committee for the BNP candidate in Patuakhali-4 constituency, ABM Mosharraf Hossain.

According to Coast Guard sources, the recovered money was allegedly being distributed to influence voters. Legal procedures are underway following the seizure. Officials present at the scene included the assistant commissioner (land) Yasin Sadiq, a senior judicial magistrate’s representative, NSI personnel, the officer-in-charge of Kalapara police station, and members of the Detective Branch. Attempts to contact the BNP candidate by phone were unsuccessful as his number was found switched off.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Hamid stated that the operation was conducted based on a tip-off, and the cash was recovered in the presence of Executive Magistrate Md Mahidul Hasan.