As part of the government’s drives against casino business and tender manipulations, Dhaka City (South) unit Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Somrat has been banned from leaving the country for his alleged links to casino business and other illegal activities. Besides, around 100 leaders belonging to different front organisations of the ruling Awami League have been kept under surveillance, said sources close to the government high-ups.
In its intensified anti-wrongdoing step, the government also have frozen bank accounts of Somrat and a ruling party lawmaker, Nur-un-Nobi Chowdhury Shaon. Their bank accounts have been frozen two days after the freezing of accounts of expelled Jubo League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuyian and GK Shamim and Krishok League leader Shafiqul Alam along with their family members.
Meanwhile, a large number of leaders of different front organisations of the ruling party already have fled the country on advance information of the cleansing moves by the government. Those leaders, who already departed the country, include Kazi Anisur Rahman, Office Secretary of the Dhaka City (South) Unit of Jubo League, its Organising Secretary Mizanur Rahman Bokul and Joint General Secretary and Motijheel Ward Councillor Mominul Hoqeu Sayeed.
The drive against the illegal gambling facilities clicked into gear shortly after Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed indignation over the activities of some Jubo League leaders. According to sources at the Immigration Police, the government issued an order to them so that Jubo League leader Somrat, who is said to have been staying at his party office to avert arrest, could not leave the country.
The immigration sources said, directives have been sent to all the ports and pockets at the airports and borders. According to sources, Somrat has been staying at his party office in the capital’s Kakrail area since last seven days. Earlier on September 18, the RAB personnel arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, an organising secretary of Dhaka City (South) Unit of Jubo League, from his Gulshan residence. The RAB also arrested another Jubo League leader GK Shamim from his Niketan residence and Kalabagan Krira Chakra President Shafiqul Alam Firoz, who is a Krishak League leader.
As per the latest drives on Tuesday, two more leaders -- Enamul Huq Enu, a vice president of Gandaria unit AL, and Rupom Bhuiyan, a joint general secretary of Gendaria unit AL, were arrested with around Tk 1.05 crore in cash and 720 tolas of gold from their possessions. Involvement of AL, Jubo League and other leaders of the ruling party in overseeing illicit gambling operations came to light after the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uncovered illegal casino business in raids on Young Men's Club, Wanderers Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra on Sept 18.
Following the drives, the RAB also conducted several other drives at different clubs including Mohamedan, Arambagh, Dilkusha, Victoria and a film club at Kakrail, and different bars and spa centres. Sources said, the Bangladesh Bank also asked all the schedule banks to submit information about the bank accounts of Somrat, lawmaker Shaon and many others within five days.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) also launched investigation into the irregularities and black money of those leaders in their accounts. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, also the minister for Road, Transport and Bridges, on Tuesday said, “A number of leaders involved in the casino business are under the surveillance.”
“The law enforcement agencies have been directed to keep themselves alert so that none involved in casino business could leave the country” said the AL general secretary.
