Casino chips were brought into the country illegally on the pretext of importing shoe manufacturing materials and under different invoices by some companies, the Customs Intelligence unit has detected this during investigation. Sources in the Customs Intelligence unit of the National Board of Revenue revealed that AM Islam and Sons, owned by one Zahirul Islam Mondal, managed to bring casino chips this way, while another company, A Three Trade International, owned by one Ahsanul Azam, imported casino materials, along with over 100 products.

The Customs Intelligence unit learnt about this while going through data provided by four commercial banks, sources added. According to a source, AM Islam and Sons allegedly imported a huge quantity of casino chips from Hong Kong on December 7, 2016.  However the company declared in the chalan before the customs that these were shoe manufacturing materials.

On the other hand, A Three Trade International allegedly imported roulet game sets and poker sets through the Beanpole border on August 13, 2017. The Beanpole customs could not find it as these were taken along with 173 other materials, said the source. The Customs Intelligence unit began an investigation after the recent crackdown on casinos and those making money through tender manipulation and extortion.

An official in the Customs Intelligence unit said they have found five companies involved in importing casino materials. Owners of two companies have been summoned for interrogation.  

C&F agents claimed that importing casino materials is not illegal if this is done following all procedures. According to Customs Intelligence unit sources, five such chalans of imports through the land and sea ports were detected in the last 10 years.

Sources in the Board of Revenue yesterday said they are yet to get account details of people who were allegedly involved in running businesses, including Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, GK Shamim, Ismail Hossain Samrat and Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, MP.

The NBR has asked the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the Bangladesh Bank early this week to freeze their accounts and provide them banking details of the alleged persons, sources said.

An NBR official, preferring anonymity, said they have taken the measures as part of the investigation to examine possession of illegal money and source of income of the persons involved in running the casino.                    

Talking to The Independent, BFIU head Abu Hena Mohd Razee, said they are still collecting banking info of people whose accounts were frozen and banking details were sought by the NBR in connection with the casino business.

He said it would take time to collect the account details and they would forward the info to the authorities concerned after preparing a report on it.

On September 18, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) carried out a raid at Fakirerpool Youngmens Club and arrested Jubo League organising secretary, Khaleda Mahmud Bhuiyan. On September 20, RAB, during two separate drives, arrested another Jubo League leader, GK Shamim, from Niketan with a huge amount of cash, FDR documents, illegal firearms and seven bodyguards. Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz was arrested from Kalabagan Krira Chakra.

During the recent drives, the NBR asked the BFIU to freeze bank accounts of Khaled, GK Shamim, Firoz, Ismail Hossain Samrat, Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, MP, and their associates for their alleged involvement in running casinos.