The Awami League youth front Jubo League has expelled its Dhaka south unit chief Ismail Hossain Samrat and Vice-President Enamul Haque Arman for allegedly breaching party discipline and conducting unethical practices
The duo were expelled following their arrest from Cumilla’s Chauddagram upazila around 5am on Sunday (Oct 6), Jubo League’s Education Affairs Secretary Mizanul Islam Mizu told Bangla Tribune.
Samrat had been under the law enforcers’ radar since the countrywide crackdown on casinos began on Sept 18 and his office and homes were raided in his presence after bringing him back on Sunday.
The involvement of Jubo League leaders in overseeing illicit gambling operations came to light after the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uncovered the illegal casino business during raids at Young Men's Club, Wanderers Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra on September 18.
The elite police unit arrested Khalid Mahmud, organising secretary of Jubo League's Dhaka south unit, the same day before nabbing Kalabagan Krira Chakra President and Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz.
GK Shamim, Jubo League leader and businessman, was arrested two days later for money laundering, illegal possession of arms, and narcotics.
Later, raids by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at 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.
Since Sept 18, RAB and police have raided different clubs across Bangladesh, busting illegal casinos. A number of people, including Jubo league leaders, were detained and then showed arrested after the raids.
Samrat went into hiding after being suspected of running illegal casinos. On September 24, Police Headquarters issued a travel ban against him.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal recently said Samrat will be brought to justice if evidence surfaces that he has committed a crime.