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One year of casino raids

Anti-casino drive still on


Published : 18 Sep 2020 09:54 PM | Updated : 19 Sep 2020 11:52 AM

One year after police launched a massive crackdown on illegal casino operation in the country on September last year, law enforcement agencies are still coming after the perpetrators.

Law enforcement agencies “have the list of the casino dealers. Of those, who left the country have returned. No one can escape punishment,” an official at the Police Headquarters said.

During a three-month purge last year, police raided 11 clubs including Young Men's Club of Fakirapul, Dhaka Wanderers Club of Motijheel, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra of Gulistan, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Dhanmondi Club, Fu-Wang Club, Banani's Golden Dhaka Bangladesh, Muktijoddha and Mohammedan Club of Chittagong.

According to law enforcement agencies, a total of 49 drives was conducted. Some 32 raids were conducted by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and 17 by police. A total of 275 people was arrested - 222from Dhaka and 53 others outside the capital. Several clubs in Dhaka and Chittagong were sealed off with a total of 32 cases being filed under drugs, money laundering and arms acts.

Charge-sheets were submitted in 13 of the cases in connection with the casino raids with another one to filed soon, said Lt Colonel Ashiq Billah, Legal and Media Wing Director of RAB.

Since the last year’s crackdown, people running casino operation in association with local influential peoplechanged their strategies to avoid law enforcers as a number of people including political leaders are behind bars and some others left the country or went into hiding.

Those who fled abroad retuned to the country and some walked out of jail on bail. Gambling and casinos also resumed in several areas in the capitalon a small-scale with online gambling is on.

According to the Police HQ’s official, several clubs in the capital’s Motijheel, Gulshan and Uttara areas are running casino operation. 

Law enforcersare keeping these casino-godfathers under watch and the intelligence agenciesbegan chasing them, the official added.