Two local leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were detained with cash in separate incidents in Kathalia upazila of Jhalakathi, according to local reports published on February 12, 2026. Joint forces and law enforcement officials carried out the detentions. The first arrest took place around 12:30 p.m. near Shauljalia Secondary School, where former Shauljalia Union BNP general secretary Mainul Haque Sohag Mallik was held with 17,000 taka in 200-taka notes. A mobile court fined him 1,000 taka and released him after taking a written undertaking.

In the second incident, Awrabunia Union BNP general secretary Md. Oliul Islam, also known as Oli Member, was detained around 11 a.m. from Awrabunia Bazar area with an unspecified amount of cash. He was later released after providing a written undertaking. The incidents have sparked local discussion, though no official statement has been issued by authorities.

The report indicates that both detentions were handled through summary legal measures, but the reasons behind the arrests and the source of the seized money remain unclear.