Amid speculations over the possible arrest of Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat over illegal casinos, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan asked the media to wait for developments.
“You will see … very soon”, he told reporters in Dhaka after his comment was sought on the matter.
“Many things are being said about him; Samrat or whoever, if he has committed a crime then he will be brought to justice,” Khan said evading a direct answer on whether his arrest was imminent.
Samrat, president of the Awami League affiliate’s Dhaka South unit, went into hiding over allegedly running illegal casinos. He has been banned from leaving the country, according to the police.
The central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit is also looking into his bank accounts.
Samrat went underground once the information of Jubo League leaders being involved in the illegal casino business surfaced.
He is found nowhere; neither in his office nor at home, according to Jubo League activists.
The involvement of Jubo League leaders 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 MuktijoddhaKrira Chakra on Sept 18.
The elite police unit arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, organising secretary of Jubo League's Dhaka south unit, the same day before nabbing KalabaganKrira Chakra President and Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz.Two days later, law enforcers arrested contractor GM Shamim, who had been identifying himself as a Jubo League leader.
Raids by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police later on the Mohammedan Sporting Club, Dilkhusha Sporting Club, Victoria Sporting Club and Arambagh Sporting Club also uncovered similar gambling operations.
On Thursday (Sept 27), RAB arrested Mohammedan’s Director-in-Charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and charged him with money laundering over his proceedings from the decades-old club.
Meanwhile, rumours are rife since late on Friday (Sept 28) that Samrat, the alleged kingpin of Dhaka casinos, could be arrested any time.
Sources in law enforcing agencies said that they were waiting for “the green signal from the government’s high ups”.
In the wake of Khaled's arrest, Samrat was holed up in his office in Kakrail overnight with his supporters surrounding the building.
Despite subsequent news reports stating that he remained there ever since, it has now come to light that he is no longer in his office although his whereabouts remain unknown.
However, according to one source close to Samrat, he is still in Dhaka and now living at the home of a “senior and influential leader” of the Awami League.
Samrat was in constantly touch with senior party leaders to resolve the issue, but it all now depends of the party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the source said before adding that the party leaders will discuss the matter once the prime minister is back from the US.
A second source claimed Samrat was still holed up in his office and is under ‘house arrest’. According to him, personnel from a special law enforcing unit and an intelligence agency are stationed at Samrat’s office.
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 Jubo League leaders.
A number of Jubo League leaders absconded following Awami League General Secretary ObaidulQuader’s statement that the prime minister is adamant to continue the raid against illegal casinos and those running them.
