Duping poor with lure of valuables

A clique has been allegedly earning a huge amount of money in the name of 'raffle draw' from the month-long fair organised by Ishwardi municipality.

The fair kicked off on March 11 was given permission by the district administration on condition of no gambling, said Abdulla Al Mamun, additional district magistrate (ADM) in Pabna.

Asked about the sale of lucky coupons or the so called raffle draw, the ADM said they gave no such permission for this.

"If any unlawful practice goes on in the fair, the local administration will take action," he also said.

Visiting the area, it was seen that men in over a dozen battery-powered three wheelers were advertising the lottery tickets in the municipality area and the adjoining areas. Each ticket was being sold at Tk 20.

"We are selling tickets in different areas and the poor people are buying them hoping to win valuable prizes like car, motorbike and refrigerator," said a ticket seller wishing not to be named.

Talking with The Daily Star, Ishwardi municipality Mayor Ishhaque Ali Malitha said that they have organised the fair in order to expedite the development work of Ishwardi stadium.

"We have organised the fair for the development of the stadium taking permission from the district administration; we don't patronise any sort of gambling or circus," he added.

Asked, who are the patrons of the daily raffle draw? the mayor, however, said that those who have organised the fair are organising the raffle draw as well.

"Actually an influential quarter is running the lottery and we have no involvement with it," the mayor added.