Court accepts charges against Samrat

A Dhaka court yesterday took cognisance of charges against expelled Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat in two cases filed under the arms and narcotics control acts.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka passed the order after scrutinising case dockets and other relevant documents in presence of Samrat, now in jail.

The court also rejected Samrat's bail petitions after his lawyer moved those on medical grounds.

The court fixed November 30 for hearing on charge framing against the accused.

Meantime, a group of people carrying different banners and placards chanted slogans on the court premises, demanding immediate release of their leader Samrat.

Earlier on November 6 last year, Rab pressed charges against Samrat, an alleged kingpin of the illegal casino business in Dhaka, in the arms case. The elite force on December 9 in 2019, pressed charges against him in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act. Samrat's accomplice Enamul Haque Arman was also charged in the same case.

On October 6 last year, Rab arrested Samrat and Arman, former vice president of the same unit of Jubo League, in Cumilla after raiding a house near Indian border.

Samrat came under the spotlight after Rab busted his illegal casino business at different sporting clubs in Dhaka. Following his arrest, he was expelled from the youth wing of Awami League.