Samrat held on specific charge: RAB DG
The elite force arrested Samrat, the president of Dhaka City South Jubo League, from Cumilla's Chauddagram area
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) says Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Samrat has been arrested on the specific charge of running gambling establishments.
"It took time to apprehend him because Samrat adopted different tactics to avert arrest," said RAB's Director General Benazir Ahmed.
The elite force arrested Samrat, the president of Dhaka City South Jubo League, from Cumilla's Chauddagram area at around 5:00am on Sunday morning amid growing speculations. Later in the afternoon, the RAB chief talked to the press at RAB headquarters, officially confirming the arrest.
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The Jubo League leader has been making headlines on his alleged involvement in the casino business in Dhaka since the government launched raids on gambling establishments.
According to several media reports, Samrat started avoiding public appearances and later went into hiding soon after the crackdown in Dhaka began. The RAB boss said: "He went into hiding two days after the drives against illegal gambling and casinos began nationwide."
"Samrat tried to flee the country through the Cumilla border," Benazir further claimed, and added that he took shelter at a house in Chauddagram before making a move to escape.
In response to a query about capturing others involved in the casino business, the RAB DG said, "We will deal with them once we finish doing what we're doing right now."
"Nobody is above the law. We all have equal rights in Bangladesh. Please do not get involved in anything illegal. If anyone commits a crime, he will be brought to book, no matter how powerful he is," he concluded.
