In the name of security, Selim Prodhan used to go around with 10 bodyguards to show off his influence. Some of them were from the state's law enforcers, the Bangladesh Ansar, according to sources.

These bodyguards were equipped with automatic firearms. He used to drive around five to six cars. He was always surrounded by his bodyguards whenever he was at public places. He used a Land Cruiser all the time.

According to sources, he recruited some Ansar personnel on the pretext of security for his printing press, but he often used them as his bodyguard.

The rise of Selim Prodhan was during the 1/11 government tenure. At that time, he created the first private printing press in Bangladesh with the permission of the government. His income-tax statement mentions that he set up a printing press with money from Japan, according to sources.

The recent drive against casinos reveals that Selim is the main driver of online casino.

 He is the don of the crime world in Dhaka.

He has been accused of extortion from cattle markets, illegal hotels and spas, and online casino business. He was caught at Shahjalal International airport while he was trying to  flee to Thailand on Monday.

Two cases under the Money Laundering Act and Narcotics Control Act were filed against Selim with Gulshan police station yesterday (Wednesday).

During preliminary interrogation, Selim spoke of going to Japan in 1988. He and his brother were engaged in a car business with the Japanese. Later, he went to Thailand and did business involving ship breaking.

In the meantime, Selim was introduced to a North Korean, Du, who advised him to open an online casino in Bangladesh, he added.

They then opened two gaming sites on P24 and T21 in 2018 and operated online casinos. They have a 50/50 partnership, the official said.

Sarwar Bin Quasem, media director of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said Selim had been sending money to London.

The RAB arrested Selim’s employees Aktaruzzaman and “Rokan” during the drives. It said they used to submit and draw money from banks on behalf of their boss.

The elite police unit also said it found at least three “gateways” through which Selim deposited the money in three banks, including the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

 As much as Tk. 90 million was deposited in one of these “gateways” in one month, Quasem said.

During his interrogation, intelligence agencies came to know that Selim regularly sent money to London to acting BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman.

According to the sources, Selim helped other underworld influential persons to smuggle out their illegally earned money.

He is also connected with an international gang of online gambling.

Selim Prodhan was born in Dhaka in 1973.

According to RAB sources, his ancestral home is in Narayanganj. Selim, owner of the “Prodhan Group”, used to link gamblers with the world’s best known casinos online.

According to detective sources, Selim has five wives—a Russian, an American, a Japanese and two are Bangladeshi.

One of them works as a customs commissioner at the Chattogram Customs House.

In the name of running a printing press for cheque books, he actually embezzled money from banks and siphoned it abroad.

His business ventures include Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers Limited, P24 Law Firm, AU Entertainment, P24 Gaming, Prodhan House and Prodhan Magazine, Prodhan Fashion, Prodhan Beauty Care & Spa and Prodhan Salon. Through P24 gaming, he used to add gamblers in his online casino website.

According to the website, P24 Gaming is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software, now actively involved in the fast growing casino business in Asia.

On Monday, a RAB team raided two offices of Selim Prodhan and seized Tk. 29 lakh in cash, currencies of 23 countries worth over Tk. 77 lakh, and 32 cheques of 23 banks worth Tk. 8 crore, 48 bottles of illegal foreign liquor, four laptops and two deer skins.

RAB operation additional director, Colonel Tofayel Mostofa Sarwar, said Selim used to encourage gamblers to play in his casino by selling online coins.

His secret casinos have mushroomed in different areas of the capital. He smuggled huge sums of money from casinos abroad.

Different law enforcement agency sources said Selim is not only involved in online casino management, but also in tender grabbing and arms smuggling through the Chapainawabganj border.

Selim embezzled Tk. 100 crore in the name loan from Rupali Bank. He went out of the country with money. He is also one of the controllers of cattle sheds and drug syndicate near the border.

Selim also owns a beauty parlour and spa located in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, which are frequently visited by VIPs. There have been allegations of immoral activities in the spa.

On Tuesday, Selim and three of his associates—Akhtaruzzaman, Roman, and Masum—were jailed for six months under the Wildlife Conservation Act by a RAB mobile court.

GK Shamim on fresh remand:

 In another development, a Dhaka court yesterday placed GK Shamim, a top government-listed contractor, on a nine-day fresh remand in connection with two separate cases.

Metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Jashim passed the order after the CID’s senior superintendent of police, Abu Sayeed, who is also the investigating officer of the cases, produced Shamim before him with a 10-day remand prayer.