The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday seized casino boards and other gambling equipment after conducting drives at Mohammedan Sporting and three other clubs in the Motijheel area in the capital. The three other clubs are: Dilkhusha Sporting Club, Arambag Krira Sangha and Victoria Sporting Club. Confirming the incident to The Independent, assistant commissioner (Motijheel zone) Mishu Biswas said the police had launched raids across the country following the closure of club-based casinos or gambling in Dhaka. The police super had also been directed to take action against gambling and gamblers, he added. Sources say a list of gamblers in cities, towns, and villages has already been prepared.

Acting on a tip-off that the belongings of various clubs were transferred to these clubs after the police started the drive against casinos on September 18, the cops started the drive around 2:30pm.

“We had to break open the club doors as they were locked. No owners or officials could be arrested during the drives,” said additional deputy police commissioner (Motijheel zone) Monalisa Begum.

During the drive, the law enforcers seized nine casino boards, shisha bar, a huge number of gambling cards and Tk. 1 lakh in cash from Victoria Sporting Club, said Mishu Biswas.

Several gambling boards and a huge number of gambling cards were also found at Arambagh Krira Sangha.

Dilkusha Sporting Club and Arambagh Sports Association are located side by side. Motijheel and Paltan police conducted the raids there. A large number of casinos and gambling equipment were seized from these two clubs.

Additional deputy commissioner (Motijheel zone) Shibli Noman, who led the drive, said they raided the clubs following some secret information. “While conducting the drive at the Arambagh club around 3:30pm, we found that electricity was already disconnected. It was difficult to locate anything in the dark. However, we could clearly make out that gambling was operated there,”  he added.

“We couldn’t find anyone in those clubs. Everyone involved with gambling fled after hearing the news of the raid. Appropriate action will be taken against those involved in operating the casinos,” he also said. The police seized Tk. one lakh in cash and casino equipment from Victoria Club.

Speaking about the operation, deputy

commissioner (Motijheel zone) Anwar Hossain said: “The raid began at 3.20pm. We were told that the club was a regular venue for gamblers. Our raids will continue.”

Replying to a question, Anwar Hossain said no one could be arrested. “As the raids were being conducted for the last few days, most of them involved went into hiding,” he explained.

Asked why the raids were not conducted earlier, the deputy commissioner said the casino raids did not start overnight. “We have taken action after getting specific information. The law enforcers have always conducted operation against illegal activities. Perhaps, the latest operation is more eyecatching because of its large scale,” he added.

To another question, Anwar Hossain said legal action would be taken against club members involved in the incident.

Following the drive, several intelligence and law enforcement agencies are now making lists of illegal casinos run in various clubs in Dhaka.

Sources in the police said that AK Mominul Haque Saeed, commissioner of Dhaka South City Corporation’s Ward 9, runs casinos in the guise of three clubs – Arambagh Sporting Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Dilkhusha Sporting Club.

Dhaka City South Juba League President Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat runs an illegal casino under the banner of Victoria Sporting Club.

At a meeting of the Awami League’s central executive committee on September 14, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly came down heavily on leaders of Jubo League for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Earlier, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) busted an illegal casino on September 18 and detained 142 persons from Dhaka’s Fakirapool area. Later, the elite force detained Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan, organising secretary of Dhaka City South chapter of Jubo League, from his Gulshan residence for running illegal casinos.

On September 20, the RAB conducted drives at Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Dhanmandi Club.

Gambling chips, foreign pistols, 572 packets of playing cards, yellow yaba tablets and other casino materials were also confiscated during the drive at Kalabagan Club. The RAB also detained its president Shafiqul Alam Firoz, who is now on a 10-day police remand.

Later on the same day, the RAB raided Dhanmondi Club Limited and closed its bar for the next 24 hours after finding some discrepancies in its stock register.

Chittagong Metropolitan police commissioner Mahbub Rahman said: “All gambling clubs have been closed. Legal action will be taken even against those sitting in a gambling room.”

Dhaka district police super Maruf Hossain Sardar said gambling would not be allowed anymore. It came after the elite police unit arrested Juba League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan for running an illegal casino inside the Young Men’s Club in the capital’s Fakirerpool September 18. The raids law enforcers have so far raided the establishments include the Wanderers Club in Fakirerpool, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Golden Dhaka Bangladesh in Banani’s Ahmed Tower.

Meanwhile, police have raided three massage parlours in Navana Tower at Gulshan-1 last night and have held 19 (three men and 16 women) from Life Style Spa Health Club and Saloon- on the 19th floor, Residence Saloon-2 and Spa- on the 20th floor, and Mango Spa on the 21st floor of the tower. Police claimed that anti-social activities were underway at the spas in guise of massage parlour. Police also sealed off the spa centres while legal measures will be taken.