Salim Prodhan, the alleged online casino mogul of Bangladesh, used to go around in a car with stickers meant for vehicles used by members of parliament. Three of his cars had stickers and investigation is underway to find how he came about these without being an MP. After being arrested, Salim is now in prison.
Cars of Salim also have hooters, used by VIPs and law enforcers. Like VIP protocol, he used to move about in a motorcade.
When influential people went to Thailand, Salim used to arrange entertainment for them and got close to power, which later facilitated him in setting up a spa business.
It’s alleged that he embezzled a large amount of money from banks and also gave a car as a present to Giasuddin al Mamun, a close confidante of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
RAB claims that Salim has huge amount of wealth in Thailand and was deported from Japan for being involved in crime. He went to Japan in 1988 and got involved in the car business. Later, when he got involved in illegal trade, he was deported.
From Japan, he came to Thailand where he began a shipyard trade.
Money laundering investigation against him began in 2015. Reportedly, he has several wives in different countries.
On Sept 30 last, he was arrested from the Shahjalal International Airport and on Oct 1, RAB carried out a drive at his residence and office in Gulshan and Banani, recovering huge amount of foreign currency, narcotics and cash.
Two deer hides were also found. The executive magistrate of wildlife protection of RAB handed him six-month imprisonment for killing deer.
Two cases have been started against under the narcotics and money-laundering legislation.
On Thursday (Oct 3), a Dhaka court remanded Salim for four days in the narcotics case.
Salim is Chairman of Prodhan Group. It has a company called P24 Gaming that reportedly operates online gambling in the country.
Another company of the group, Japan Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers, is registered with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Other organisations owned by Salim include several spas and beauty salons and a law firm.
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