Jubo League leader, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, arrested for having links to illegal casinos and possessing unlicensed firearms, was once a worker of Freedom Party.
He grew up in Shajahanpur in the city and was close to the brother of BNP leader Mirza Abbas.
But he changed colours fast and when AL came to power, joined Jubo League. He earned the trust of the central leaders in a short time and secured his place in the organsiation.
With patronage from several leaders, he became a powerful figure, moving around with licensed as well as illegal weapons.
Four cases covering his activities relating to money laundering, possession of illegal weapons and setting up unlawful gambling trade were lodged against him.
Deputy-commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Sudeep Chakravarty, says: “Arrested in two cases of drugs-related crimes and illegal arms, he has been sent to court with a request for a seven-day remand.”
The money laundering case falls under the CID’s jurisdiction and they would investigate it, he added.
Khaled was arrested Wednesday afternoon at four from his Gulshan residence for running illegal casino business.
During his initial interrogation, Khaled revealed details of his political rise. He named people to whom he paid a cut from his income.
It’s believed that Khaled carried out the illegal trade of gambling with the covert blessings of several ministers.
President of city Jubo League south, Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat was the ‘political guru’ of Khaled Mahmud.
After joining Samrat’s group, Khaled later ran his own gang of thugs, controlling Motijheel, Shahjahanpur, Rampura, Sabujbagh, Khilgaon and Mughda areas.
Reportedly, he also manipulated tenders of DSCC, rail ministry, WASA, youth ministry.
Khaled came to politics through Freedom Party members, Manik and Rashu, who carried out a bomb attack on Sheikh Hasina in 1989.
While studying at Habibullah Bahar College he got involved in a clash with the police and was wounded in the leg by a shot fired by law enforcers. From then, he developed a limp.
It’s believed that he has several arms licenses and moves around with a large force. His men also extort money from Khilgaon-Shahjahanpur Leguna transport operations.
He also controlled cattle markets during Eid ul Azha in Shahjahanpur and Kamlapur. He is also the president of Khilgaon kitchen market.
DMP has said that Khaled’s rise occurred in the last 3-4 years. He used 'to manage top political leaders'. No one used to meddle with him but his fall has come about as the PM is angry with errant people in her party.