Staff Reporter :
Jubo League (JL) leader Ismail Hossain Samrat and his associate Enamul Hoque Arman were arrested for their alleged links to the illegal casino operations from a house at Kunjasreepur village in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla district early Sunday.
Samrat is the President of Dhaka South unit JL and his associate Arman is also a Vice-President of the same unit.
A team of the elite force nabbed Samrat and Arman from Kunjasreepur village under Alkora union around 5:00am, said RAB-11
Company Acting Commander Pranab Kumar.
The RAB had cordoned off a house of one Munir Chowdhury since Saturday evening and later, nabbed the duo from there, the RAB official said.
Samrat took shelter in the house owned by one of Samrat’s relatives, said Alkora Union Parishad Chairman Golam Farruque.
Besides, separate team raided on Samrat’s city office and two residences in the capital.
RAB’s Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam led the drive at Samrat’s office in Kakrail’s Bhuiyan Trade Centre, said Mizanur Rahman, Senior Assistant Director of the elite police unit’s media wing.
A unit of the elite force is simultaneously combing Samrat’s home in Shanti Nagar, said RAB-3 Captain Lt Col Shafiullah Bulbul.
RAB also carried out a drive in his another residence in Mohakhali DOHS where his second wife lives, said RAB-2 Captain Ashik Billah.
The raid on Samrat’s office is being led by RAB. Aside from RAB personnel, police have also taken position on the road opposite the Rajmoni Ishakha Hotel.
Meanwhile, elite force conducted a raid at Bhuiyan Trade Centre from 1:15pm to 6pm, said RAB Media Wing Director Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem.
During the raid, the elite force recovered huge foreign liquor, 1,150 Yaba tablets, a pistol, six bullets and two kangaroo hides, the RAB official said.
But RAB spokesman claimed that the elite force members did find any money in cash and FDR money like the raid on another JL leader GK Shamim’s office in city’s Gulshan.
The RAB men simultaneously conducted raids on the houses of Samrat and his brother in Mohakhali and in Shantinagar.
According to some locals, Samrat used to spend a large portion of his days at his office. In the wake of Jubo League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan’s arrest on September 18, Samrat had holed himself up in his office overnight with his supporters surrounding the building.
He reportedly went into hiding a few days later after reports pointing to his involvement in the casino business.
A large portrait of Samrat’s was found hanging on the walls of Muktijoddha Krira Chakra during RAB’s raid. It has been alleged that he ran the casino operations inside the club.
According to reports in the media, Samrat would also collect a share of the money from the other casinos in Motijheel area too.
On September 24, the government imposed a travel ban on Samrat for his alleged link with running casinos at different sporting clubs in Dhaka.
Samrat went underground once information linking leaders of the Awami League’s youth front with the illegal gambling business surfaced.
It came after the RAB busted casino operations in raids on Young Men’s Club, Wanderers Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra in Motijheel on September 18.
The elite police unit arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, organising secretary of Jubo League’s Dhaka south unit. The same unit nabbed 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 identified himself as a Jubo League leader.
In the wake of Khaled’s arrest, Samrat was holed up in his office in Kakrail overnight with his supporters surrounding the building. Subsequent news reports later indicated that his whereabouts were unknown.
According to reports in the media, Samrat would also take a share of the money from the other casinos in Motijheel area.
