Wait continues for Samrat!
The director general of Rapid Action Battalion yesterday echoed two ministers’ remarks, when asked about any development regarding Dhaka South Jubo League President Ismail Chowdhury Samrat.
“Keep patience. We will get all the answers,” Benazir Ahmed told journalists, refusing to reply to any specific question about Samrat, who has been at the centre of speculations following law enforcers’ recent drives against gambling and corruption.
The RAB DG made the comment while inspecting security arrangements at Banani Puja Mandap in the capital.
Earlier on September 28, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said “You will see… very soon” when journalists wanted to know about the arrest of Samrat. The very next day, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader made a similar comment saying, “Please wait and see. You will soon know.”
Samrat is suspected to be one of the main men behind illegal casinos in the city. He has been banned from leaving the country, according to police.
Samrat went into hiding after the arrest of Dhaka South Jubo League organising secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, for his alleged links with running a gambling den at a sporting club in Fakirerpool on September 18.
According to Jubo League insiders, Samrat left his Kakrail office on September 22 night and has been traceless since then.
Since the late hours of September 27, there have been speculations that he has been arrested. But Rab and police have refuted the claim.
Amid speculations over Samrat’s possible arrest, none from the government, including the ministers are giving any specific development about the Jubo League leader.
Sources in law enforcement agencies however said they were keeping a close watch on Samrat, and waiting for “the green signal from the government high-ups” to detain him.
Since September 18, law enforcers have been conducting drives against illegal casinos, gambling and corruption and have arrested some top leaders of the ruling Awami League’s youth front Jubo League and other associate bodies.
RAB NOT THE LEAD AGENCY: BENAZIR
When asked if there is a list of those who are yet to be detained in the ongoing operation, Benazir said, “This anti-graft drive is a big issue. Not only Rab forces, but many other agencies are also involved in weeding out those found to be involved in corruption, or the illegal casino business.”
Since the prime minister announced a zero-tolerance policy against corruption in this year’s election manifesto, all law enforcement agencies have joined forces in the anti-corruption drive, he added.
“Rab is not the lead agency in this operation,” the RAB DG said, adding that they are working in cooperation with other agencies.
Replying to a query regarding former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia’s comments of “It is not the sole responsibility of police to deter the spread of casinos. Other law enforcement agencies like Rab and intelligence agencies also cannot avoid their responsibilities,” Benazir said, “I do not know if he made any such comment.”
Benazir said Rab has only seven mandates, and does not usually go beyond them.
“One of the mandates was to follow the government’s direction,” he said. “So, unless the government directs us, we do not go beyond our mandate.”
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