Rab digs out casino treasures from AL leaders’ dens

Enamul Haque, vice present of Gendaria Thana Awami League and a shareholder of Dhaka Wanderers Club in Fakirapool, owns 15 houses in Dhaka and crores of Taka allegedly earned through casino businesses and political muscle.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Tuesday seized more than Tk5 crore in cash, 730 bhori of gold ornaments and five firearms including three shotguns and two revolvers from the houses of Enamul and his two accomplices, Abul Kalam Azad and Harun Rashid, from Old Dhaka's Sutrapur area.

However, RAB could not detain any of them because none of them were home during the raid.

"Enamul had already left the country while his brother Rupon is absconding," said Lieutenant Colonel Shafiullah Bulbul, commanding officer of RAB-3. He also mentioned that the money had been illegally earned from casinos.

Tk1.5 crore was confiscated from Enamul's house, Tk2 crore and a revolver were seized from Abul Kalam Azad's home, and another Tk2 crore was seized from Harun's house. 

Both Enamul and his brother Rupon are shareholders of Wanderers Club in Fakirapool. Enamul has been a member of the club since 1985. Later, he became a shareholder.

From Enamul's house at Banianagar, Murgitola (Doyaganj Notun Rasta Intersection) in Old Dhaka, RAB seized Tk1.5 crore, 5 firearms including 3 shotguns and 2 revolvers. The law enforcers will check the legality of these firearms.  

Though Enamul bought the house two years ago, he did not live there. His brother in law and mother in law lived there. The firearms and money were found on the 2nd and 5th floor of the building.

The commanding officer of RAB said Enamul bought gold because it is not convenient to store a large amount of money at home.

However, Enamul's brother in law Opu said Enamul had a parts and machinery business, and the money has been earned from the business.

His associate Abul Kalam Azad's house is a three-storied building in the Narinda area of Old Dhaka. The vault was found beside the sofa in the drawing-room. 

On Tuesday morning, Abul Kalam went out on the pretext of going to the mosque. Though he had a family programme at home, he did not return home. 

The house of Harun Rashid, a friend of Enamul, is a two-storied building in Sutrapur. Though the house does not seem attractive from the outside, the interior is quite plush. 

His wife said he worked at a truck stand nearby. Questions remain on how he managed to build such a plush house by working at a truck stand. 

Harun's wife said Enamul came to the house a few days ago and left the vault there.

Earlier, the elite force learnt that a large amount of money had been siphoned off from the club. Later, from a vault maker, they learnt that Enamul had bought several vaults.

Law enforcers raided these homes based on this information.

Local people allege that Enamul managed to buy 15 houses by using muscle power.

Neighbours and local people said they knew that Enamul was involved in politics, but had no idea that he was so wealthy. 

They also said Enamul earned money through land grabbing. Whenever he heard that someone, especially a relative, has a problem with land, he used to threaten him and buy it at a nominal price.