ACC to launch probe
The Anti-Corruption Commission will enquire into the illegal wealth of a section of public works department officials, top government-listed contractor SM Golam Kibria Shamim and the people who amassed wealth through the casino business.
The decision was made at an emergency ACC meeting, said Dilwar Bakth, ACC secretary, at a press briefing at its Segunbagicha Headquarters in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion yesterday arrested businessman Salim Prodhan at Shahjalal International Airport on charges of running an online casino in Bangladesh and money laundering.
Rab members carried out a raid at Salim’s online-based gambling office in the capital’s Gulshan-2.
A Rab-1 team conducted the drive at “p24 gambling office” on the fourth floor of the six-storey building “Momtaz Vision” on Road No. 99 from 8:30 pm yesterday.
Salim was arrested on a Bangkok-bound plane, said a source in the airport.
Additional Director General of Rab Col Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar told The Daily Star that they arrested Salim at the airport around 3:30pm.
“He has been arrested for his links to online casino business and money laundering,” Tofayel said, adding they were not willing to disclose further details now.
Following Salim’s confessional statement, the Rab team raided his office, said Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, senior additional director of Rab’s legal and media wing.
According to its website, Prodhan Group is a business conglomerate founded by Salim Prodhan in 2006. Prodhan Group’s overseas office is located at Si Racha of Chon Buri in Thailand.
Salim, 38, also chairman of Japan Bangladesh Group, was awarded CIP status by the Bangladesh government.
Replying to a query, Dilwar Bakth said, “the ACC will enquire into the wealth of all the people whose names have come up in the media for their involvement in the casino business.”
The ACC secretary, however, failed to confirm how many people would be brought under the enquiry process.
Asked whether the anti-graft watchdog will carry out any enquiry against the people who backed the casino business, the commission secretary gave an indirect answer.
“We’ll carry out the enquiries that fall under the ACC’s jurisdiction,” he said adding a director has been appointed to carry out the enquiry.
In line with the directive given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, law enforcement agencies began a crackdown on casinos and illegal businesses.
Law enforcement agencies arrested Dhaka South Jubo League Organising Secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan on September 18. After Khaled’s arrest, they also detained a number of leaders of Jubo League, Krishak League and the Awami League in the capital.
On September 20, law enforcers arrested Shamim, popularly known as GK Shamim, for his alleged involvement in tender manipulation and making money illegally.
In Narayanganj, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials seized gambling items from a battery factory at Laxmankhola area under Bandar upazila yesterday noon.
The ACC’s Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya said the commission will also enquire into the wealth of Shamim and officials of the PWD.
“A five-member team, led by ACC’s Director Syed Iqbal Hossain, will conduct the enquiry,” he added.
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