Published on 01:24 AM, September 26, 2019

Lokman siphoned off Tk 41cr to Australia

Rab says

Mohammedan Sporting Club director (in-charge) M Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan is being taken to the office of Rab-2 after he was arrested from his house in Tejgaon of Dhaka on September 25, 2019. Photo courtesy: Prothom Alo

Rapid Action Battalion today claimed that Mohammedan Sporting Club director (in-charge) M Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan siphoned off around Tk 41 crore in Australia.

Lokman, who was arrested last night for alleged link with the casino, admitted that he deposited around Tk 41 crore in ANZ Bank and Commonwealth Bank in Australia, Commanding Officer of Rab-2 Lt Col Ashique Billah said at a press conference at his office today.

“In primary interrogation, Lokman admitted that he has become owner of a huge amount of money and property out of casino business,” he said.

He has around Tk 41 crore in cash and another Tk 3 crore worth of moveable property, he added.  

He deposited a major portion of the money in ANZ bank and Commonwealth Bank in Australia as Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) since his son is now studying in Australia, the Rab official said.  

Lokman also rented out a room of the club to his close friend Dhaka South City Corporation Councilor AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed for running the casino at a per day rent of Tk 70,000.

Rab arrested Lokman Hossain, also a director of Bangladesh Cricket Board, from his Monipuri Para residence last night with four bottles of illegal liquor.

“We mainly arrested Lokman for his link with casino,” the CO said.

The Rab CO said since the elite force started the anti-gambling operation from September 18, Lokman was hiding in different places including in Narayanganj.

A team of Rab-2 launched a drive at the residence of Lokman in Monipuri Para of Tejgaon around 11:45pm and arrested him, Senior ASP Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, assistant director (media and legal wing) of the force, told The Daily Star.

Lokman sued

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-2 filed a case against Lokman with Tejgaon Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act this evening, Sentu Mia, officer-in-charge (investigation) of the police station, told The Daily Star.

The case was filed against him as the Rab members recovered four bottles of illegal foreign liquor in his house during the drive, said the OC.

The Rab officials handed Lokman Hossain over to Tejgaon police this evening and he will be produced before court tomorrow, the OC added.