Alleged casino kingpin and expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Chowdhury Samrat operated as many as 10 casinos across Dhaka, according to the law enforcing agencies.
Samrat’s name popped up in the gambling scandals after the crackdown on various casinos started. He, however, remained elusive until his arrest along with his accomplice Armanul Huq Arman from Cumilla’s Chauddogram on Monday (Oct 7).
Following his arrest, Rapid Action Battalion raided his office in Dhaka’s Kakrail and two residences in Shantinagar and Mohakhali DOHS.
They seized 19 bottles of foreign liquor, 1,160 tablets of contraband yaba, one foreign pistol of 7.65 bore, five rounds of ammunition, two electroshock machines, two sticks, four sets of playing cards. Nothing was found in either of his homes.
Samrat’s second wife Sharmin Chowdhury who resides at Mohakhali DOHS revealed his addiction to gambling while speaking to reporters.
According to his wife, Samrat spent 10 days every month in Singapore for gambling.
Since he is a known first rate gambler, Changi Airport offered him special facilities and took him to the Marina Bay casino directly from the airport in a limousine.
On Monday (Oct 6) RAB opened two cases with Ramna police against Samrat under the Arms Act and Narcotics Act, confirmed Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman.
According to the case documents of the firearms case, questioning and investigations revealed that Samrat used his influence as Jubo League’s Dhaka south chief to operate casinos across the Dhaka and accumulate massive amount of illegal wealth.
Known in the gambling circle as ‘Casino Samrat,’ he reportedly carried out and facilitated tender manipulations.
His musclemen reportedly tortured people with the electroshock machines if they refused to pay up or disagreed with him.
The case documents said that there are several cases against him in various police stations and Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan and ward councilor Mominul Hoque Sayed were his top cohorts.
RAB headquarters deputy director Mizanur Rahman said that the elite police unit will be investigating the case.