Two Awami League leaders – both brothers – arrested over casino business

Police have arrested the Vice President of Gendaria Thana Awami League Enamul Haque and his brother Rupon Haque, joint general secretary of the local AL unit, for their involvement in illegal casino business.  

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested them from Keraniganj area early today, CID revealed the information at a press briefing in the capital.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of CID Imtiaz Ahmed said CID was investigating four money laundering cases against the duo. 

Imtiaz Ahmed said the brothers have confessed in the primary interrogation that they have 22 houses in Dhaka, Tk19 crore in 91 bank accounts that the Bangladesh Bank has already frozen.  

"They also have five cars for their uses," said the DIG. 

He said, "The law enforcers today recovered Tk40 lakh cash and 12 mobile phones from their possession." 

He said, "When the government started crackdown against casinos, the brothers fled to Cox's Bazar from Dhaka. They had a target to flee the country through Myanmar via naval route to Malaysia, but they failed for the vigilance of the law enforcers."   

He said after that, the duo returned Dhaka and took shelter at their staff's rented house in Keraniganj where they were trying to prepare fake passports to flee the country again. 

The DIG said action will be taken against those who are involved with casino business. 

He also said, "Enamul and Rupon brought the Nepalese nationals in Bangladesh to play casino." 

During the anti-gambling drive last year, Rapid Action Battalion recovered more than Tk5 crore, 730 bhori of gold ornaments and six guns from the residence Enamul Haque.

Enamul and his brother Rupon Haque were shareholders of Wanderers Club in Fakirapool.