As the corrupt and wrongdoers are now caught in a period of anti-evildoers drives and deep apprehension and the crackdown on the troublemakers is very much alive in the public awareness, several hundred leaders of Awami League front bodies and businessmen have gone into hiding. With conscious section of the society grasping the long-range hope of goodness, the ongoing massive cleansing drives have forced several hundred leaders of ruling Awami League and its different front organisations, as well as businessmen in capital Dhaka, port city Chittagong and different districts to go into hiding to avert arrest.
Officials from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Police said, many of them have fled the country while others remain hiding inside the country. According to sources, those who were involved in such illicit activities have left their offices, clubs and even their residences immediately after the drives were launched against illegal casino business inside different sporting clubs, hotels and restaurants in capital and elsewhere in the country.
Drives were conducted at the capital’s Mohamedan Club, Arambagh Club, Dilkusha Club, Wonderers Club, Victoria Club, Youngmen Club, Dhanmondi Club, Kolabagan Club, Muktijoddha Krira Chakra Club, Sutrapur Club, BG Press Sporting Club and restaurants at Paltan, Segunbagicha, Gulshan, Moghbazar and Eskaton. Accordingly, raids were conducted at different clubs in Chattogram and Chandpur district.
According to the RAB and police, drives were conducted around 100 clubs, restaurants and hotels in Dhaka, Chittagong, Chandpur and at different other places across the country. But only around 15 leaders from AL, Jubo League and Krishok League were arrested while all other leaders and businessmen involved in such illicit activities have fled away before the drives were launched. Many of them already have left the country.
Those who were arrested include, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiya, expelled organising secretary of Dhaka City (South) unit Jubo League, its cooperative affairs secretary GK Shamim, Krishok League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz and some of their accomplices. Although, Tk around 5 crore and 750 tolas of gold were recovered from the residences of AL leaders Enamul Huq Enu and Rupom Bhuiyan in capital’s Gendaria area, none of them could be arrested.
RAB-3 Commanding Officer Lt Col KM Shafiullah said, “Enamul fled to Thailand immediately after the anti-casino drive was launched on September 18 and his brother Rupom is still hiding in the country. He said they have information about several others leaders, who have involvement in such casino and other illegal businesses.
“Process is on to arrest all of those who are hiding for their involvement in such illicit activities”, said the RAB-3 CO. Meanwhile, the government already has imposed a ban on the departure of Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Somrat, president of Dhaka City (South) unit Jubo League, while around 100 others have been kept under surveillance so that they could not leave the country. Somrat is said to have been staying inside his party office in the capital’s Kakrail area. But it is not sure whether Somrat already has left the country or not.
According to sources, a list consisting names of leaders and businessmen, who have involvement in tender manipulation and casino business, has been prepared. Those names include central leaders from AL, Jubo League, Chhatra League and Krishok League. Besides, names of some leaders of different sporting clubs, owners of several restaurants, former government officials and journalists are also included in the list.
