Freeze Aziz’s accounts for 30 days
Bangladesh Bank yesterday asked all banks to freeze the accounts of Aziz Mohammad Bhai for 30 days.
The move came after the Department of Narcotics Control recovered casino equipment and over 390 bottles of liquor from his two residences in the capital’s Gulshan-2 on Sunday.
Issuing the order to the banks, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit of the BB also sought information on the accounts of the controversial industrialist, and that of the persons or organisations linked to him, if found any.
A casino was being run on the rooftop of one of the houses though the anti-casino drives stopped such illegal activities in the identified clubs, said a DNC official.
“Most of the gamblers in the home-based casino were foreigners. Only well-known persons were allowed there,” said the official, preferring anonymity.
“There was a bar for the entertainment of the gamblers. Besides, there was an arrangement for home delivery to selected clients in the city’s posh areas like Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara.”
According to Khurshid Alam, an assistant director of DNC, this was the first time casino equipment was recovered from a residential building.
“Omar Mohammad Bhai, a nephew of Aziz, used to run the casino and the bar.”
DNC officials said Omar had fled away using the fire exit minutes before they began their drive.
Yesterday, they filed two cases with Gulshan Police Station against Omar and arrested caretakers of the house -- Nabin Mandal and Meer Md Parvez -- for storing and selling liquor.
A general diary would be filed over recovery of the casino equipment, the officials said last night.
However, Aziz was not named in the cases as he has been abroad since 2007, they added.
“We will implicate Aziz if we find his involvement after the investigation,” Khurshid said.
The officials say they suspect there are more home-based casinos in different areas of the city and that they will continue their drive.
According to them, Aziz is now staying in Thailand with his family. He runs his businesses from there. He never came home since 2007 but his wife and four children came several times.
His wife had left Bangladesh just two days before the drive in Gulshan.
Since September 18, Rab and police have raided different places, including some renowned sporting clubs, and arrested a number of leaders of the ruling party and its affiliated bodies for running illegal casinos.
Comments