Law enforcers have arrested 50 suspected gamblers after raiding three clubs across Bangladesh on Wednesday (Sept 25).
They also seized betting tables, gambling equipment, money counting machine, and cash during the raids
Police detained 18 people at the Bawal Monohoriya area of Keraniganj upazila while they were reportedly gambling in a club.
Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (land) of Keraniganj, Kamrul Hassan sentenced the detainees to 15 days imprisonment, confirmed Atibazar police outpost Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Jalil.
"We conducted a drive in the area on a tip-off and caught them while gambling," he said and added that they were sent to prison when the magistrate found the allegations of gambling to be true.
Bangla Tribune’s Joypurhat correspondent reports that, police seized Tk 52,000, four motorcycles, one television and cycle, and 12 betting tables from one Zero Point Club.
Nine alleged gamblers including the son of Jaipurhat unit Mohila Awami League leader Rebeka Sultana were detained during the drive.
"Acting on a tip-off, we conducted a drive in the club and seized a significant amount of gambling equipments," said Jaipurhat Sadar police station Inspector Raihan Hossain.
Meanwhile, in Pabna, two sporting clubs were raided where police seized Tk 43,790 and detained 14 alleged gamblers from the district’s Ishwardi upazila.
The two clubs, located at the upazila’s Gopalpur area are Surjo Songho Club and Notun Club.
Ishwardi police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arbind Sarkar said: "In the wake of recent crackdowns, the locals complained that these two clubs were running illegal activities under the banner of sporting club."
"We were monitoring their activities for a couple of days and detained 14 people during the last night's raid," he added and said a case was filed in this connection under Ishwardi police station.
Police, however, are yet to identify the owners of both the clubs, he said.
Police raided the house of a local Awami League leader in Satkhira and detained nine alleged gamblers with cash and gambling equipments.
The house is owned by Awami League's Satkhira unit's Information and Research Secretary Haidar Ali Tora, according to news agency UNB.
Haran Chandra Paul, Officer-in-Charge of Detective Branch (DB) police, said a police team, led by Additional Superintendent of police (ASP) Md Iltutmish, conducted the drive at Haidar's house.
"We detained nine gamblers and recovered Tk49, 000 during our raid," he added.
Law enforcement agencies have been conducting raids on the illegal casinos in Bangladesh since September 18. Several people, including some Jubo League leaders, were also detained in these drives.