Empire lost

Casino don Samrat jailed after arrest in Cumilla

Eighteen days after the government launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling and casinos, casino kingpin Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat landed in Keraniganj Central Jail following his arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Cumilla early yesterday. Samrat was detained along with his main associate Arman from one of the relatives’ house in Chauddagram upazilla around 5:00am. Following his arrest, the law enforcers conducted drives at several locations, including their houses and offices as well as the Juba League office in Dhaka.

A RAB mobile court, led by Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam, sentenced them to jail in the evening. After detention, Samrat was interrogated by RAB and then taken to his office as part of a drive. At the same time, RAB raided his residences at Dhanmondi, Banani, Mohakhali and Shantinagar areas in the capital. A case was filed against Samrat for violation of the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act 2012 and illegally preserving two kangaroo hides imported from Australia. The RAB carried out a five-hour drive at Kakrail’s Bhuiyan Mansion, which is known as his office.

He was given six months’ imprisonment for illegally keeping animal hides.

RAB also confiscated around 19 bottles of foreign liquor, 1,160 contraband yaba tablets, two electric shock machines, two kangaroo hides and a pistol with five bullets and a pistol magazine from Kakrail’s Bhuiyan Mansion. They, however, did not find anything else at his other houses or offices.

RAB personnel started conducting the drive at Samrat’s office in Kakrail’s Bhuiyan Mansion at 1:40pm.

Following the raid at Samrat’s office, Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam told the media that two different cases would be filed against the casino kingpin under the Narcotics Control Act and Arms Act.

“It will be known later whether he can be sued under money laundering cases after investigation. How he was arrested and where he

had been hiding can only be known after investigation,” Sarwoer said. On the arrest of Arman, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Sarwar Bin Kashem said he was found in an inebriated condition and a large number of liquor bottles were found in his possession. Later, he was sent to six months of jail in Cumilla for illegally possessing liquor under the Anti-narcotics Act.

After a six-hour raid on Arman’s Mirpur house, RAB DIG Mojammel Haque told the reporters that Arman’s wife and four children were on the run from the house since morning.

Mojammel, however, said the family had information of Arman’s arrest beforehand and that they were on the run after receiving the news.

RAB after raiding Arman’s residence found 12 cheques linked to different bank accounts.

Meanwhile, the Juba League Executive Committee yesterday suspended its Dhaka south unit President Ismail Hossain Samrat and Vice-President Enamul Haque Arman for their ‘unsocial and anti-party activities’. A press release signed by Juba League’s Education Affairs Secretary Mizanul Islam Mizu announced the decision hours after RAB arrested the duo in Cumilla.

Samrat went into hiding within two days of the ongoing illegal casino raids across the country, said RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed around 2:00pm.

It took the elite force more time than usual to locate the actual whereabouts of Samrat, he added.

Benazir was speaking to the media at the RAB headquarters. “Owing to media attention, Samrat adopted various techniques to evade the law enforcement agencies," he said. “He was arrested for his involvement in the casino business as his name surfaced several times during our ongoing drive against casinos,” added the RAB chief.

Asked whether such arrest will continue, Benazir said: “The arrest of one and two persons won’t help. We are working together. Have patience.”

Responding to another query, the RAB chief said: “We have shut down casinos and arrested many in this connection. We are moving forward slowly.”

Pointing figure at the wrongdoers, Benazir warned: “Stay away from illegal business or else you’ll have to pay for it.”

According to the RAB intelligence sources, Samrat tried to flee the country via Cumilla border. He took shelter at a house in Chauddagram before making the move to escape.

The sources, however, said a complaint was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office around two months ago claiming that extortion, tender manipulation and drug trade could not be controlled in Dhaka because of Samrat and his cohorts.

How Samrat was held

The RAB informed the media that Samrat had been hiding in the house of a person named Munir Chowdhury in Punjashree village of Chauddagram upazilla.

Early in the morning, around a dozen cars carrying RAB members took position around Punjashree village and stopped vehicular movement on different roads of the area, said Company Commander of Cumilla RAB-11 Pranab Kumar.

Later, they cordoned off the house and detained Samrat and Arman, he added.

Locals said Munir Chowdhury is locally known as a Jamaat-e-Islami leader. He is the brother-in-law of Feni municipality Mayor and a ruling party leader Md Alauddin.

What prompted Samrat’s arrest

Actions took place earlier this month when RAB raided the illegal casinos being run from sporting clubs in Dhaka on September 18.

Samrat was reported to have been the mastermind of gambling in the capital.

Earlier, he went into hiding once the information of Juba League leaders being involved in the illegal casino business surfaced. He was nowhere to be found, neither in his office nor at home.

On September 22, multiple sources, including several Juba League leaders, told this newspaper that Samrat was staying at his office. He was also available on his mobile phone till that afternoon.

The involvement of Juba League leaders in illicit gambling operations came to the fore after RAB uncovered illegal casinos in drives at the Young Men’s Club, Wanderers’ Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra on September 18. The police also issued an alert to inform all airports and ports to prevent Samrat from going abroad.

RAB also arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, Organising Secretary of Juba League’s Dhaka South unit, the same day before nabbing Kalabagan Krira Chakra President and Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz.

Two days later, the law enforcers arrested contractor GK Shamim, who had been identifying himself as a Juba League leader.

Raids by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police later on the Mohammedan Sporting Club, Dilkhusha Sporting Club, Victoria Sporting Club and Arambagh Sporting Club also unearthed similar gambling operations.

On September 27, RAB nabbed Mohammedan’s Director-in-Charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and charged him with money laundering.

Rumours were rife since September 28 that Samrat would be arrested any time. Sources in the law enforcement agencies said that they had been waiting for “green signal from the government high-ups”.

 

Empire lost

Casino don Samrat jailed after arrest in Cumilla

Eighteen days after the government launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling and casinos, casino kingpin Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat landed in Keraniganj Central Jail following his arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Cumilla early yesterday. Samrat was detained along with his main associate Arman from one of the relatives house in Chauddagram upazilla around 5:00am. Following his arrest, the law enforcers conducted drives at several locations, including their houses and offices as well as the Juba League office in Dhaka. A RAB mobile court, led by Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam, sentenced them to jail in the evening. After detention, Samrat was interrogated by RAB and then taken to his office as part of a drive. At the same time, RAB raided his residences at Dhanmondi, Banani, Mohakhali and Shantinagar areas in the capital. A case was filed against Samrat for violation of the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act 2012 and illegally preserving two kangaroo hides imported from Australia. The RAB carried out a five-hour drive at Kakrails Bhuiyan Mansion, which is known as his office. He was given six months imprisonment for illegally keeping animal hides. RAB also confiscated around 19 bottles of foreign liquor, 1,160 contraband yaba tablets, two electric shock machines, two kangaroo hides and a pistol with five bullets and a pistol magazine from Kakrails Bhuiyan Mansion. They, however, did not find anything else at his other houses or offices. RAB personnel started conducting the drive at Samrats office in Kakrails Bhuiyan Mansion at 1:40pm. Following the raid at Samrats office, Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam told the media that two different cases would be filed against the casino kingpin under the Narcotics Control Act and Arms Act. It will be known later whether he can be sued under money laundering cases after investigation. How he was arrested and where he had been hiding can only be known after investigation, Sarwoer said. On the arrest of Arman, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Sarwar Bin Kashem said he was found in an inebriated condition and a large number of liquor bottles were found in his possession. Later, he was sent to six months of jail in Cumilla for illegally possessing liquor under the Anti-narcotics Act. After a six-hour raid on Armans Mirpur house, RAB DIG Mojammel Haque told the reporters that Armans wife and four children were on the run from the house since morning. Mojammel, however, said the family had information of Armans arrest beforehand and that they were on the run after receiving the news. RAB after raiding Armans residence found 12 cheques linked to different bank accounts. Meanwhile, the Juba League Executive Committee yesterday suspended its Dhaka south unit President Ismail Hossain Samrat and Vice-President Enamul Haque Arman for their unsocial and anti-party activities. A press release signed by Juba Leagues Education Affairs Secretary Mizanul Islam Mizu announced the decision hours after RAB arrested the duo in Cumilla. Samrat went into hiding within two days of the ongoing illegal casino raids across the country, said RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed around 2:00pm. It took the elite force more time than usual to locate the actual whereabouts of Samrat, he added. Benazir was speaking to the media at the RAB headquarters. Owing to media attention, Samrat adopted various techniques to evade the law enforcement agencies, he said. He was arrested for his involvement in the casino business as his name surfaced several times during our ongoing drive against casinos, added the RAB chief. Asked whether such arrest will continue, Benazir said: The arrest of one and two persons wont help. We are working together. Have patience. Responding to another query, the RAB chief said: We have shut down casinos and arrested many in this connection. We are moving forward slowly. Pointing figure at the wrongdoers, Benazir warned: Stay away from illegal business or else youll have to pay for it. According to the RAB intelligence sources, Samrat tried to flee the country via Cumilla border. He took shelter at a house in Chauddagram before making the move to escape. The sources, however, said a complaint was sent to the Prime Ministers Office around two months ago claiming that extortion, tender manipulation and drug trade could not be controlled in Dhaka because of Samrat and his cohorts. How Samrat was held The RAB informed the media that Samrat had been hiding in the house of a person named Munir Chowdhury in Punjashree village of Chauddagram upazilla. Early in the morning, around a dozen cars carrying RAB members took position around Punjashree village and stopped vehicular movement on different roads of the area, said Company Commander of Cumilla RAB-11 Pranab Kumar. Later, they cordoned off the house and detained Samrat and Arman, he added. Locals said Munir Chowdhury is locally known as a Jamaat-e-Islami leader. He is the brother-in-law of Feni municipality Mayor and a ruling party leader Md Alauddin. What prompted Samrats arrest Actions took place earlier this month when RAB raided the illegal casinos being run from sporting clubs in Dhaka on September 18. Samrat was reported to have been the mastermind of gambling in the capital. Earlier, he went into hiding once the information of Juba League leaders being involved in the illegal casino business surfaced. He was nowhere to be found, neither in his office nor at home. On September 22, multiple sources, including several Juba League leaders, told this newspaper that Samrat was staying at his office. He was also available on his mobile phone till that afternoon. The involvement of Juba League leaders in illicit gambling operations came to the fore after RAB uncovered illegal casinos in drives at the Young Mens Club, Wanderers Club and Muktijoddha Krira Chakra on September 18. The police also issued an alert to inform all airports and ports to prevent Samrat from going abroad. RAB also arrested Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, Organising Secretary of Juba Leagues Dhaka South unit, the same day before nabbing Kalabagan Krira Chakra President and Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz. Two days later, the law enforcers arrested contractor GK Shamim, who had been identifying himself as a Juba League leader. Raids by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police later on the Mohammedan Sporting Club, Dilkhusha Sporting Club, Victoria Sporting Club and Arambagh Sporting Club also unearthed similar gambling operations. On September 27, RAB nabbed Mohammedans Director-in-Charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and charged him with money laundering. Rumours were rife since September 28 that Samrat would be arrested any time. Sources in the law enforcement agencies said that they had been waiting for green signal from the government high-ups.