The question paper leak syndicate used to take Tk 3-5 lakh from Dhaka and Jagannath university admission seekers, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

Besides, the main certificates of the candidates were kept under the syndicate's custody until full payment was made, the report added.

Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner (North) Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Detective Branch (DB) of Police made the disclosure.

The students were given the links of question paper through WhatsApp, he added.

Earlier yesterday, a total of 17 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in leaking question paper of 'Ka' unit admission tests of Dhaka and Jagannath University.

The arrestees disclosed the information in primary interrogation, the DB official added.

The detectives first detained 22 people from different parts of Dhaka in this connection. Of them 17 were shown arrested.

The arrestees are Zobayer Hossain, Md Akib Bin Bari, Nahidul Haque, Saju Ahmed, Mahmudul Hasan, Samiul Islam, Sabbir Hossain, Hasanur Rashid, Md Mehedi Hasan, Hridoy Islam, Rayhan Rabbi, Akash Ahmed, Md Tanvir, Sabuj Khan, Md Shohag,, Mehedi Hasan and Manik Mia.

Zobayer was first arrested in front of Ziaur Rahman Hall of Dhaka University upon information from the university authorities, detectives claimed, adding that the rest were arrested based on information given by Zobayer.

10 certificates of the candidates were recovered from Akib and Nahidul, detectives said.

The 'Ka' unit admission tests of Dhaka and Jagannath universities were held yesterday.

However, the question papers recovered from the arrestees' possession did not match with the original question papers, Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Nazmul Alam said.

A case was filed with Tejgaon Model Police Station in this connection.