Despite decade long association, Papon says he has no idea about the activities of Lokman, chief of personal security of Khaleda Zia, but the picture below is the burning testimony of who Lokman is. Now the alleged involvement of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon is coming to light after the grilling of the arrested kingpins of illegal casino business, creating a sensation among different sections of society, reports Daily Janakantha.
Mentionable, since the beginning of the all-out drive against corruption, drug abuse and gambling, only two ruling party leaders dared to speak against the ongoing drive: BCB president Papon and Jubo League Chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury. It is mysterious that even after being an in-law of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family, Omar Faruk Chowdhury, did not understand the gravity of the government steps. He just a day after the drive was launched, directly and without hesitation spoke against the ant-corruption steps taken by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sources involved in interrogating Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, acting director of Mohammedan Sporting Club, said that many a sensational and important information is coming out from Lokman, reports national daily Janakantha on Monday. Lokman, also chairman of BCB facilities management committee, is accused of having ties to a casino and possessing alcohol. But, immediately after the arrest, Papon advocated Lokman’s innocence to the media, saying, “I can say that I know Lokman as a good man who didn’t drink alcohol in his life, and who didn’t take part in gambling.”
Meanwhile, Quoting intelligent sources media reports, Lokman has confessed that fugitive acting BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Papon are among those who used to get the lion’s share of casino money. According to the report, Lokman once was the chief of security force of the then opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. During interrogation, Lokman informed the law enforcers that besides some top ruling party leaders, a number of BNP leaders, also used to get the share of the illegal money.
Mentionable, on Wednesday last, Lokman was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from his house in the city’s Monipuri Para. He reportedly admitted to earning Tk41 crore from the club’s casino business and depositing the amount at two separate Australian Banks – Commonwealth Bank of Australia and ANZ Bank. However, depicting Lokman as a man of conscience after his arrest, on Friday, the BCB President told the media that he was unaware of Lokman’s ties to casino and love for alcohol.
In reply to a query whether Lokman would continue holding the BCB director’s post, Papon answered that as the allegation against him is not yet proved, BCB is not going to take any action right now. “Once the allegation is proved, certainly steps would be taken accordingly,” he also said. A number of sources claimed that after Awami League came to power a decade ago Lokman entered into the party sphere through Papon. Within a few years, he amassed a huge amount of wealth besides laundering crores of taka capturing the casino business in Dhaka.
During interrogation, sources said, Lokman confessed that in 2016, he handed over a big share of casino money to Tarique Rahman going to London. He also used to pass secrets of the ruling party to Tarique Rahman. Meanwhile, a group of permanent members of the Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) on Saturday asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to suspend their Director in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan from BCB.
They raised the demand at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon. Former national footballer and vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Badal Roy placed the demand on behalf of MSC members. “We’re appealing to BCB President to remove his friend [Lokman] as director of BCB. We demand an immediate suspension of his directorship,” Badal added.
MSC members also condemned Lokman’s alleged ties to illegal casino business and sought an explanation about the club’s expenditure from MSC President Obaidul Karim.