Noman Mosharef :
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) started campaign against casino business in the capital on September 18, 2019. After one year the fugitives casino dealers are becoming openly active in the capital.
A vast part of accused remains elusive except expelled Dhaka South Jubo League President Ismail Chowdhury Samrat and organising Secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan. Arrested few accused are now staying outside jail after getting bail from court. In the meantime they again started casino business. As a result, most of closed clubs are open now. The law enforcers’ agency got new information that the casino dealers are now operating their business in their resident also.
An official of police headquarters said, we have a list of casino dealers. Of them who left the country have returned. No one can escape punishment.
The official further said, few clubs in Motijheel, Gulshan and Uttara have opened and running casino business. They are under observation.
Police headquarters official said, a casino was opened by renting a building opposite to the APBN office in Uttara. The club has been closed for some time after the anti-casino campaign, but has reopened. A Club on the side of Malibagh-Mouchak main Road named ‘Sainik Club’ is run by the name of retired soldiers. The club is now open. The club is run by Juba League leader Jasimuddin and ATM Golam Kibria. Casinos are operating in a number of such clubs and homes. ‘
After talking with law enforcers’ it is known that a total of 49 anti-casino drives were conducted over a period of about three months. Of these, 32 were conducted by RAB and 17 by police. 275 people were arrested in these raids. Of these, 222 were arrested in Dhaka and 53 outside Dhaka. A total of 32 cases were filed.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Ward No 32 Councillor Habibur Rahman Mizan alias Pagla Mizan, Ward No 33 Councillor Tariquzzaman Rajib and DSCC Ward No 39 Councillor Moinul Haque Monju are known faces who were arrested by RAB.
GK Shamim, a top government-listed contractor, is among the list. Shamim was arrested with bank fixed deposits or FDRs worth Tk165 crore, around Tk1.8 crore in cash and a large stash of dollars.
A total of 18 firearms, 277 rounds of ammunition, about Tk8 crore in cash, huge amount of foreign currency, narcotics and gambling equipment were recovered during the operations, said RAB officials.
During this period, RAB raided 11 casinos and clubs. These are Young Men’s Club of Fakirapul, Dhaka Wanderers Club of Motijheel, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra of Gulistan, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Dhanmondi Club, Fu-Wang Club, Banani’s Golden Dhaka Bangladesh, Muktijoddha and Mohammedan Club of Chittagong.
After the expedition, a total 30 to 35 including Mominul Haque Saeed, the expelled organizing secretary of Juba League Dhaka Mahanagar Dakshin, central member Mizanur Rahman, former president of Chhatra League, Dhaka Mahanagar North SM Rabiul Islam Sohel, , Ali Ahmed, the lessee of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Delwar Hossain alias Delu from Gulistan returned home. Shafiqul Alam Firoz, president of Kalabagan Sports Club, and Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Director of Mohammedan Club, who were arrested in the raid, have been released on bail. During the operation, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) summoned the bank accounts of former Juba League chairman Omar Farooq Chowdhury, former Office Secretary Anisur Rahman and MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon. Besides, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) banned traveling abroad of 23 people, including three members of Parliament.
When asked about the cases filed during casino drive, RAB Director (legal and media wing) Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem said, chargesheets of 13 cases were submitted in the court. RAB is investigating one case. Rest cases chargesheets will be submitted soon.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) started campaign against casino business in the capital on September 18, 2019. After one year the fugitives casino dealers are becoming openly active in the capital.
A vast part of accused remains elusive except expelled Dhaka South Jubo League President Ismail Chowdhury Samrat and organising Secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan. Arrested few accused are now staying outside jail after getting bail from court. In the meantime they again started casino business. As a result, most of closed clubs are open now. The law enforcers’ agency got new information that the casino dealers are now operating their business in their resident also.
An official of police headquarters said, we have a list of casino dealers. Of them who left the country have returned. No one can escape punishment.
The official further said, few clubs in Motijheel, Gulshan and Uttara have opened and running casino business. They are under observation.
Police headquarters official said, a casino was opened by renting a building opposite to the APBN office in Uttara. The club has been closed for some time after the anti-casino campaign, but has reopened. A Club on the side of Malibagh-Mouchak main Road named ‘Sainik Club’ is run by the name of retired soldiers. The club is now open. The club is run by Juba League leader Jasimuddin and ATM Golam Kibria. Casinos are operating in a number of such clubs and homes. ‘
After talking with law enforcers’ it is known that a total of 49 anti-casino drives were conducted over a period of about three months. Of these, 32 were conducted by RAB and 17 by police. 275 people were arrested in these raids. Of these, 222 were arrested in Dhaka and 53 outside Dhaka. A total of 32 cases were filed.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Ward No 32 Councillor Habibur Rahman Mizan alias Pagla Mizan, Ward No 33 Councillor Tariquzzaman Rajib and DSCC Ward No 39 Councillor Moinul Haque Monju are known faces who were arrested by RAB.
GK Shamim, a top government-listed contractor, is among the list. Shamim was arrested with bank fixed deposits or FDRs worth Tk165 crore, around Tk1.8 crore in cash and a large stash of dollars.
A total of 18 firearms, 277 rounds of ammunition, about Tk8 crore in cash, huge amount of foreign currency, narcotics and gambling equipment were recovered during the operations, said RAB officials.
During this period, RAB raided 11 casinos and clubs. These are Young Men’s Club of Fakirapul, Dhaka Wanderers Club of Motijheel, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra of Gulistan, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Dhanmondi Club, Fu-Wang Club, Banani’s Golden Dhaka Bangladesh, Muktijoddha and Mohammedan Club of Chittagong.
After the expedition, a total 30 to 35 including Mominul Haque Saeed, the expelled organizing secretary of Juba League Dhaka Mahanagar Dakshin, central member Mizanur Rahman, former president of Chhatra League, Dhaka Mahanagar North SM Rabiul Islam Sohel, , Ali Ahmed, the lessee of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Delwar Hossain alias Delu from Gulistan returned home. Shafiqul Alam Firoz, president of Kalabagan Sports Club, and Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Director of Mohammedan Club, who were arrested in the raid, have been released on bail. During the operation, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) summoned the bank accounts of former Juba League chairman Omar Farooq Chowdhury, former Office Secretary Anisur Rahman and MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon. Besides, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) banned traveling abroad of 23 people, including three members of Parliament.
When asked about the cases filed during casino drive, RAB Director (legal and media wing) Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem said, chargesheets of 13 cases were submitted in the court. RAB is investigating one case. Rest cases chargesheets will be submitted soon.
