A local Swechchhasebak Dal leader was detained by the Coast Guard along with Tk 50 lakh in cash in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali on Wednesday night.
The detainee was identified as Kajal Mridha, 41, joint convener of the municipal unit of Swechchhasebak Dal.
He was held around 10pm from an area adjacent to Khepupara Girls’ Secondary School, said Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kausar Hamid.
Acting on a tip-off, a Coast Guard patrol team conducted a drive in the area. During the operation, the team searched a market bag in Mridha’s possession in the presence of Executive Magistrate Md Mohidul Hasan and recovered Tk 50 lakh in cash.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Yasin Sadiq, members of the Detective Branch (DB) and other law enforcement officials were present during the drive.
Officials said no evidence of the money’s link to the election was found. The Coast Guard later filed a money laundering case against him with Kalapara Police Station.