The countrywide crackdown by different law enforcement agencies on casino operators and drug dealers, as part of anti-drug and anti-terror campaign, will continue. A large number of senior leaders of ruling Awami League and its associate organisations are under close monitoring, said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader. The home minister also cautioned that nobody will be spared whoever he or she may be.
Following the recent drive against a good number of illegal casinos and gambling dens by law enforcing agencies, the arrested operatives were found to have been involved in Jubo Dal politics in the past. They later joined Jubo League and went under the shelter of some top party leaders.
In recent moves, actions have been taken against a large number of leaders, activists and supporters of Awami League, Jubo League, youth front of AL, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of AL, and many others on various allegations. At least four casinos in the capital have already been sealed and raids were conducted at several other clubs in Dhaka and Chattogram for conducting illegal gambling.
During the rule of BNP-Jamaat alliance, they did not take any instantaneous punitive actions against their own party men who were involved in irregularities, plundering, corruption and killings.
As per the present government high command’s drastic order, nobody, either in the ruling Awami League or any other will be spared if found involved in any offensive activities in order to build a peaceful society, where there would be no envy and hatred among the people of any faith.
Since the government is proceeding with its ‘zero tolerance’ policy against the corrupt, extortionists, tender manipulators, drug peddlers and criminals, these actions will not remain confined to the capital, but rather be spread throughout the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League President, warned that none will be spared from the government’s tougher stance against persons found involved in misdeeds and corruption. Besides, Awami League stalwarts and cabinet members also expressed their determination in this regard saying the drive against the corrupt people, wrongdoers and drug dealers would continue towards making the country free from misdeeds and impropriety.
On Saturday, Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal uttered warning against corrupt people and criminals saying, “Whoever he or she is, no corrupt will be spared.”
“Punitive measures will be taken against anybody found involved in corruption or any other illegal activity,” remarked the home minister while talking to newsmen after a function at private North-South University in the capital.
As per the latest move, police on Friday night arrested two Jubo League leaders in Kushtia on charges of extortion. Kushtia Sadar Upazila unit Jubo League General Secretary Mijanur Rahman Miju, 36, and Kushtia town unit convener Ashraful Sujon, 40 were arrested within two hours of a case being filed against them by a local businessman.
On Friday, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Jubo League’s central committee leader GK Shamim from Dhaka with illegal firearms and a huge amount of money. Three separate cases were filed against him in connection with arms, drugs and money laundering.
Hours after the arrest of Shamim, RAB also arrested Safiqul Alam Firoz, Kalabagan Krira Chakra President, and also a central member of Krishak League, the farmers’ wing of AL. He, along with five others, was detained with a pistol and yaaba tablets.
Earlier on Wednesday, Rab arrested Jubo League leader Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan, an organising secretary of Dhaka City (South) unit of Jubo League, from Gulshan on September 18. Khaled, who is a former cadre of Freedom Party and also a leader of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, was arrested following a raid at his casino, from where large quantity of illegal drugs and currencies were recovered. RAB personnel also detained 142 people from the casino. After the arrest, Khaled was expelled from Jubo League. In Chattogram on Friday, law enforcers detained around 25 people from a club in the city on charges of gambling and drug abuse. A police team conducted a drive at Hang Out club near Almas Cinema Hall in the port city.
In Bogura, a son of former lawmaker Kamrunnahar Putul, who is also the women affairs secretary of Bogura district unit AL, was arrested on charges of illegal drug business. Identified as Rahid Mostafiz, the AL leader’s son was arrested by DB police Friday night. Notably, BCL president Rejowanul Huq Chowdhury Shovon and general secretary Golam Rabbani were removed from their posts earlier on September 14, following allegations of extortion them.
