Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud saidcasino culture had been initiated during the regime of the BNP government and the then government had not taken any step against it as many of its top leaders were behind this devious business, reports BSS.
He made this observation while briefing the journalists at Rajshahi Circuit House in Rajshahi on Tuesday. The information minister also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched stringent drives against the abuse of drugs and other wrongdoers and these people will be brought to book in phases. Through building ‘Hawa Bhaban’ many of the BNP leaders got ten percent commission from the business, he said, adding that Tareque Rahman had been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for his involvement in such activities.
Political Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam also talked to the journalists on the issue saying that six of the seven persons, whose names have so far appeared in casino business investigation, were patronized by BNP leader Mirza Abbas, Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Mosaddek Ali Falu. He said most of the wrongdoers, whose names have appeared in the media in connection with casino business, infiltrated into Awami League from BNP and its associate bodies. He, however, said Awami League is a clean and transparent political party.
HT Imam said the current drive is not against Awami League. “We always believe in clean politics,” he added. He also said that drastic action will be taken against all the infiltrators as soon as possible. HT Imam and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud reached here this morning to attend a youth carnival organised by Publicity and Publication Sub- committee of Awami League at Shilpakala Academy.
