Staff Reporter :
Two policemen Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Mithu and Constable Dipankar Chakma have been suspended for their involvement in helping 15 Nepalis to flee Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club during a drive against casinos on September 19.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed this at a meeting with the Crime Reporters’ Association Bangladesh (CRAB) on Thursday.
They took action against the suspended policemen after gathering evidence from CCTV footage, he added.
Asked whether police personnel were involved with the casino business, the commissioner said, “It is under investigation.” Actions would be taken if they are found guilty, he added.
He did not say anything about another intelligence agency official against whom allegation has surfaced in connection with the incident.
The CCTV footage of an apartment building in the capital’s Segunbagicha area showed that 15 Nepalis, who reportedly worked in casinos, fled from the building on September 19, when RAB began a crackdown on the casinos at Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club in Motijheel area.
The footage showed that three plainclothes men with walkie-talkies in hands entered the building — “Summit Hasan Lodge” — around 10:48pm on Wednesday night.
At the entrance, they introduced themselves as policemen and told the security guard to take them where the Nepalis were staying.
Guard Uzzal took them to the flat. Uzzal was not allowed inside.
The three left the building around 11:28pm with a bag.
Around 1:46am, 15 Nepalis were seen leaving the building with luggage.
Investigators have found direct or indirect involvement of about 100 foreign nationals, mostly Nepalis, in Bangladesh’s illegal casino business.
They were either partners in the casinos, or hired as employees to operate the gambling machines or to manage the businesses, said police.
