The various clubs across Motijheel and Paltan in the capital are on the alert with the law enforcers leading countrywide crackdown on casinos since last week.
The clubs around those areas are nearly vacant although locals say that up until very recently they were booming with people.
The scenario is the same for clubs located in Dhanmondi but ‘posh’ ones in upscale neighbourhood of Gulshan and Banani area still running.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that they are conducting the raids based on specific allegations and it’s not necessary that all the clubs run illegal businesses.
Bangladeshi law dictates casinos and gambling as illegal and the fact that Dhaka has its own casino hub came across as a surprise to many. Many of these establishments were operating behind the veil of sports clubs.
The Sept 18 crackdown, brought to light the ruling party youth front Jubo League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan who is allegedly involved with the gambling den at the Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club.
Another name that was dragged through the casinos was that of Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, under whose umbrella the most casino businesses were mostly run.
The Motijheel area was a well-known haunt for sports clubs, each with its own history but raids found that most of them housed casinos.
According to law enforcers, Motijheel’s Shonali Otit Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Dilkusha Sporting Club, Dhaka Wanderer’s Club, Victoria Club, Azaad Sporting Club, Fakirerpoo Young Men’s Club and the Dhaka Restaurant and Recreation Centre at Paltan operate illegal gambling facilities and some were busted in the third day of the raids on Sunday (Sept 22).
A spot visit to these clubs on Saturday (Sept 22) showed that that most of them are shut while the few that were open were devoid of any crowd.
Shonali Otit Club
A spot visit to Motijheel’s Shonali Otit Club on Saturday showed a few locals watching television in a room.
Basically a former footballers’ club, the rest of the rooms were locked up. Locals said that they have many memories in a tin-shed club and welcomed the casino drives.
“We welcome the raids. Something like this cannot continue in the clubs,” President Hasanuzzaman Bablu told Bangla Tribune.
He said that this was tarnishing the images of clubs and claimed that no illegal activity including gambling is allowed there.
Dilkusha, Mohammedan, Arambag and Victoria clubs raided
On Sunday (Sept 22), the Dhaka metro police simultaneously raided Mohemmaden Sporting Club, Arambagh Krira Shangha, Victoria Sporting Club and Dilkusha Sporting Club.
During the raids, they seized casino-style gambling equipment and large quantities of alcohol. As many as nine gambling decks, Tk 100,000 in cash, large amounts of playing cards, chips and alcohol were found at the Victoria Club while two roulette tables, nine decks and 10 different types of knives have been confiscated from Mohammedan club.
Arambagh and Dilkusha clubs also had several gambling equipments seized, including baccarat and roulette tables.
A spot visit to these clubs the day before found a lock hanging on the entrance to Dilkusha club. Locals complained that it was a popular haunt for gambling and the premises are usually teeming with cars and people.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, although open was devoid of its usual crowd. Locals and law enforcers told Bangla Tribune on Saturday that the added tin-shed house on the club premises is a gambling den.
Meanwhile, during Saturday’s spot visit to Arambag Krira Sangha found the place completely deserted. Locals complained that it housed gambling facilities on the second floor.
Bangla Tribune tried to reach the club’s president and local Councillor Mominul Haque Sayid for comments but found his phone switched off and General Secretary Md Yaqub didn’t answer his phone.
Clubs around Dhanmondi sealed-off
In a series of raids conducted on Friday (Sept 20), RAB found gambling equipments, drugs and guns in clubs around Dhanmondi and Elephant Road.
The elite police unit arrested the president of Kalabagan Krira Chakra Shafiqul Islam Firoz and five others on Friday. Contraband yaba, a firearm and over 500 playing cards and gambling chips were seized from the premises. The guards told Bangla Tribune that the club has remained closed since then.
The same evening RAB cordoned off the Ajax Club premises at Elephant Road and locals said that the place was regular haunt for gamblers.
The bar storage for Dhanmondi Club was sealed off by RAB after Friday’s raid and a spot visit showed that the authorities haven’t re-opened the club since then.
Although no one was available for comments at Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, as of Saturday, their activities remained normal and the club hasn’t been raided.
Fu Wang Club “closed”
Situated at the Gulshan-Link Road, Fu-Wang Club reportedly has a bar and a casino in addition to a restaurant and gymnasium.
Two security guards flanking the front doors told Bangla Tribune on Saturday that the club was “closed due to some issues.”
They were also seen turning away a person about to enter and immediately after, a car stopped to speak to the guards and went in front of adjacent Koyla Restaurant.
Intelligence agency sources said that Koyla is a part of the club and there is a second entrance and exit between the two establishments.
No raids on Azaad Club and Dhaka Recreation Centre yet
Established in 1943, Azaad Club at Motijheel no longer participates in tournaments. There are allegations that cards games are held at the premises but Saturday’s spot visit found the place completely deserted.
The collapsible gate of Dhaka Restaurant and Recreation Centre on the sixth floor of ‘Pritam-Zaman Amit Tower’ at Paltan bore a padlock, trade licence and bar licence on Saturday.
Although the licences are registered in the name of one Delowar Hossain, the recreation centre reportedly was started by a close associate of Jubo League leader Samrat.
Moreover, security guards told Bangla Tribune that the 14th floor housed a casino by Samrat’s cohort Swapan but the equipments have been removed from there.
Gulshan-Banani clubs active
The ‘posh’ clubs at Gulshan and Banani zones are conducting regular operations despite the ongoing raids.
All six floors of Banani Club at the upscale area were completely operational on Saturday (Sept 21)
“No one other than the club members are allowed to enter,” Banani Club Security In-charge Moniruzzaman told Bangla Tribune.
He added that the club has swimming pool, restaurant and gymnasium facilities but no bars or casinos. “No unsocial activity including gambling is allowed here.
The scenario was similar at Gulshan Club on Saturday with the club members entering the brightly-lit premises.
In addition to the Gulshan-Banani clubs, the Abahani Limited Club was also operating normally on Saturday.
“Nothing illegal goes on in our clubs,” said the club’s Ground Manager (football) Babul Nandi.
He added that there was a time when the members used to play cards but they no longer do and entry with alcohol is absolutely forbidden.