Please wait and see, Quader says over rumour on Samrat’s arrest

Road Transport and Bridges Minister today asked people to have faith on the home minister’s comments over the “rumour” on Dhaka South Jubo League President Samrat’s arrest as “he is the authorised person” to talk about it.

“Please wait and see. You will soon know,” Quader said when journalists asked him whether Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat was arrested.  

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visiting an under-construction underpass being built near Shaheed Ramij Uddin School and College on the Airport Road. Photo: Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

He made the comment while visiting an under-construction underpass being built near Shaheed Ramij Uddin School and College on the Airport Road.

There has been speculation since yesterday about the arrest of Samrat, the alleged kingpins of “casino” business in the capital.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday asked media to wait, evading to tell anything specific about the possible arrest of Samrat.

“You will see…very soon”, the minister said responding to a query of journalists on whether Samrat was arrested or not.

Meanwhile questioned about BNP’s demand to make a complete list of properties of Awami League leaders, Quader said the same would be done for BNP leaders too.

Since 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, Samrat had reportedly dug himself in at his  office in Kakrail.

Sources in law enforcement said they were keeping a close watch on Samrat and waiting for “the green signal from the government’s high-ups” to detain him.

Jubo League sources said Samrat, reportedly holed up in his Kakrail office, was desperately trying to leave the country to avoid arrest and get away from the government’s wrath on illegal gambling.

According to Jubo League insiders, Samrat left his office Sunday night and has been traceless since.

The government on September 24 imposed a travel ban on Samrat and Bangladesh Bank sought details of his accounts with banks.

Since September 18, the law enforcers have been conducting drives against illegal casinos, bars, and spa and have arrested some top leaders of the ruling Awami League’s youth front Jubo League and other associate bodies.