Staff Reporter :
Expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, one of the “casino kingpins” in Dhaka, has siphoned off Tk 195 crore to Singapore and Malaysia illegally, with the help of his cohort of Enamul Haque Arman, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police found in an investigation.
The CID filed a case against the duo under the Money Laundering Act with Ramna Police Station today, Jisan Haque, ASP (media) of CID, confirmed the matter.
In its investigation, the CID found that Samrat (49), had visited Singapore 35 times, Malaysia three times, Dubai two times and Hong Kong one time, between 2011 to 2019, according to the case statement.
In those eight years, Samrat’s associate Arman (56), also visited Singapore 23 times.
In the FIR, the CID mentioned that Samrat earned money through conducting various illegal activities in Motijheel, Fakirapool, Paltan and Kakrail areas.
On October 6, 2019, Rapid Action Battalion arrested Samrat, who was the president of Dhaka South unit Jubo League, and his close aide Arman, former vice-president of the same unit, from Cumilla after raiding a house near the Indian border.
He came under the spotlight after Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) busted his illegal casino business at different sporting clubs in Dhaka and later was expelled from the Jubo League following his arrest.
Samrat was then brought to the capital, and the elite force conducted operations at various establishments where the Jubo League leader either lived or carried out political and business activities.
RAB also took Samrat to his political office in Kakrail, where he has been reportedly staying since the crackdown began on September 18 last year.
A RAB mobile court, led by Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam, sentenced Samrat to six months’ imprisonment for possessing wild animal hides and another six months for possessing illegal liquor.
RAB filed two cases against him with Ramna Police Station the next day in this connection.
The Anti-Corruption Commission also filed two cases against Samrat and Arman for amassing wealth through illegal means.
