With the recent drive against illegal gambling, casinos have been discovered in all areas of the city. The exposure of gambling has opened a can of worms, along with a sordid criminal trail of drugs, crime and extortion.

While several people have been arrested, the punishment in the country for gambling is pretty lenient. As per the 152-year-old law, enacted during the colonial period, the highest fine for gambling is Tk 200 with 3 months imprisonment.

This means that the culprits from whom hundreds of kilograms of gold were found will get a very negligible form of punishment. Under the law, a delinquent teenager who plays cards and the casino owner will get the same punishment.

The colonial era law was not amended during the last 48 years.

Says supreme court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua: “The law of 1867 is inadequate by the standards of current day large scale gambling crimes because it is linked to other criminal activities.

Barrister Barua, said those who run casinos are powerful and venal customs officials also colluded with them to import gambling equipment.

“Everyone has to be caught. The law must be the same for all, not selective.”

Lawyer Manzil Morshed adds: “Since a huge amount of money was transacted, the board of revenue will have to be included  in the crackdown and a new law is essential.”

Law minister Anisul Huq, has also underlined the necessity to have a relevant law to counter illegal gambling.

He observed: “We will raise the issue at the cabinet and discuss how the punishment can be increased and gambling treated as a severe breach of law.”