Barishal Correspondent :
Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP) starting drives against gambling centers and clubs arrested 13 and recovered gambling items on Sunday night and Monday noon.
Nurul Islam, officer in charge of Barishal Kotwali police station, acknowledged the facts.
Sub Inspector Bashir Ahamed, who led the raid, said police on basis of tipoff operating a drive at 10:00 PM Sunday arrested 8 gamblers from second floor of the Nuria Secondary School behind the house of former AL lawmaker, city AL president late Shawkat Hossain Hiron and his widow Jebunnesa Afroj at Alekanda area of the city. The arrestees were Showeb Ahamed Sejan, Arif Sarder, Iqbal, Md Shamim, Sadek Sarder, Enam Mahamud Rakib, Ziauddin Titas, Biplob and Sumon Khan, aged thirty to fifty.
Police sources said they using a room of the school using that for gambling since long days and arrested Showeb was a Jubo League activist and conducting the gambling.
However Nizamul Islam Nizam, city convener of Jubo League, said Showeb has no post in JuboLeague.
Rafiqul Islam, head master of the school, said using school room for gambling was beyond his knowledge.
Barishal Metropolitan Police operating a drive at`Nabajagaron Club’ another gambling club, at Nazirer Pol area of the city behind the Barishal central jail and within 100-yards of Kotwali police station arrested five men and recovered one kg ganja (hemp) on Monday noon.
The arrestees were Nuruzzaman, Manik Howlader, Sultan Howlader, Harunor Rashid and Parikkhit, aged forty to fifty.
This club was controlled by BNP leader Syed Akbor Hossain and during AL regime Juboleague leader BCC ward-7 councilor, panel mayor Advocate Rafikul Islam Khokan alias Mama Khokon took the control of the club.
However, none of them was present during the raid, police sources said.
Instrument for operating Casino type gambling was not recovered, but the raided spots were defamed for gambling by playing carom board and drinking alcohol, taking different types of narcotics. Legal actions would be taken as per rules against the gamblers and the club, the OC told.
