Belal Uddin Pradhan, a Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer (leader) and teacher from the Thakurgaon region of northern Bangladesh, was arrested on Tuesday "with around Tk 50 lakh" at the Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari.
Pradhan was first allegedly caught with the Tk 50 lakh at the Dhaka Airport, but was allowed to board his flight after some questioning. However, he was again caught at the Saidpur Airport, from where he was arrested.
After he complained of illness, he was then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, confirmed Superintendent of Police (Nilphamari), Sheikh Zahidul Islam, as per a Prothom Alo report.
Security forces have been increased in and around the hospital where Pradhan was admitted, as the arrest comes just two days before the highly anticipated nationwide elections in Bangladesh on Thursday.
“No sign of a heart attack was found in the Jamaat leader after conducting medical tests," said Nazmul Huda, Resident Medical Officer of the hospital, as per a Financial Express Bangladesh report.
"An ECG was performed, but no indication of a heart attack was detected. He has been referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for further evaluation," Huda added.
The Bangladesh police have since registered a case against the Jamaat leader, which will probe the source of the Tk 50 lakh that was recovered from him at the airport.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair declared that foul play was behind Pradhan's arrest, and that it was a "stage-managed drama by law enforcers".
Speaking at an emergency press conference at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Zubair also rejected allegations of money laundering, and claimed that the recovered money was not even related to the election but was linked to the Jamaat leader's personal business transactions.