Staff Reporter :
Four Jubo League bigwigs, including its Dhaka South unit President Ismail Hossain Chowdhury, have gone into hiding after reports emerged connecting the leaders of Awami League’s youth front to the running of illegal casinos in the capital.
Meanwhile, Police Headquarters have issued a travel ban on JL President Samrat so that he cannot leave the country.
A senior police official at the headquarters told The New Nation on Tuesday that a letter in this regard has been sent to all airports and land ports across Bangladesh.
On September 18, Rapid Action battalion (RAB) raided Youngmen’s Club in Fakirarpool and Wanderers’ Club in Motijheel and Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra in Gulistan in Dhaka.
Later on the same day, Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan, organizing secretary of Jubo League Dhaka South unit, was arrested from his Gulshan residence for money laundering, possession of arms and narcotics.
Jubo League leader Samrat is said to be a mentor to Khalid, who was remanded on September 19 in four cases on various charges, including running an illegal casino in Dhaka.
Several media outlets have already dubbed Samrat a “casino king,” claiming no casino can be set up in Dhaka without his approval.
Samrat is a regular gambler, and he travels to Singapore very often. He reportedly spends at least one-third of each month gambling in Singapore, according to media reports.
He visits Marina Bay Sands Casino as a high-roller, even receiving limousine service from Changi Airport to the casino.
Arman and several other top Juba League leaders, including Mominul Haq Momin, reportedly accompany Samrat during the trips to, and from Singapore.
The police official also said action will be taken against Samrat if evidence of his involvement with illegal casino business is found.
bdnews24.com adds: According to activists of the organisation, these leaders, including Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, president of Jubo League’s Dhaka South unit, are not attending their offices nor can they be found at their homes.
The organisation’s General Secretary Harunur Rashid too failed to account for their whereabouts amid the ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling establishments.
The involvement of Jubo League leaders in overseeing illicit gambling operations came to light after the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uncovered illegal casino business in raids on Young Men’s Club, Wanderers Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra on Sept 18,
The elite police unit arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, organising secretary of Jubo League’s Dhaka south unit, the same day before nabbing Kalabagan Krira Chakra President and Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz a day later. Two days later, the law enforcers arrested contractor GM Shamim, who also identifies himself as a Jubo League leader.
The drive against the illegal gambling facilities clicked into gear shortly after Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed indignation over the activities of Jubo League leaders.
Apart from Samrat, the other absconding leaders are the organisation’s Central Committee Office Secretary Kazi Anisur Rahman, Dhaka south Organising Secretary Mizanur Rahman Bokul and Joint General Secretary and Motijheel Ward Councillor Mominul Hoqeu Sayeed.
According to some Jubo League activists, they have gone underground so as to evade arrest over their involvement with casino operations at different clubs.
In the wake of Khaled’s arrest, Samrat was holed up in his office at Kakrail overnight with his supporters surrounding the building.
Despite subsequent news reports stating that he remained there ever since, it has now come to light that he is no longer in his office although his whereabouts remain unknown.
“Samrat hasn’t been to the office since Saturday morning. No-one knows where he is,” an aide to Samrat told bdnews24.com.
Asked whether he is at home or not, he said, “We couldn’t find him in his office so we went to his residence but he wasn’t there.”
A security guard at the Jubo League’s Kakrail office told bdnews24.com on Sunday, “Sir (Samrat) left in the morning but hasn’t returned yet.”
He repeated the claim when contacted on Monday.
A large portrait of Samrat’s was found hanging on the walls of Muktijoddha Krira Chakra during the raid. It has been alleged that he ran the casino operations inside the club.
According to reports in the media, Samrat would also draw a fixed amount of money from the other casinos in Motijheel’s Club Para on a daily basis.
Anisur faces allegations of amassing a huge amount of illegal wealth through extortion, charging commissions from tenders and offering different posts in organisation for money.
He has not been seen at his office or home since Sept 21.
“Anisur has made a lot of money illegally by selling off posts in the Jubo League committee, extortion and taking commissions from tenders. He is hiding in order to avoid arrest,” said Sardar Mohammed Ali Mintu, a member of the organisation’s central committee.
“Anisur started working as a computer operator at Jubo League’s central office in 2005. He moved up to the post of office secretary seven years later. He now owns several cars and properties,” added Mintu.
Mizanur handled all the dealings of Young Men’s Club chief Khaled, according to several Jubo League leaders.
“He is involved in all of Khaled’s misdeeds starting from picking up his share from the club in Fakirapool, to extortion and tender-grabbing,” a Jubo League leader said on condition of anonymity.
