Alleged casino kingpin and expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Chowdhury Samrat has secured bail in two cases—one filed on charges of money laundering and the other for possessing arms illegally.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzol Hossain passed the order on Sunday, turning down the police’s plea for a three-day remand in the money laundering case.
Despite securing bail in the cases, Samrat will not be released from custody right away as he awaits indictment hearing in two other cases.
Of these two cases, one was filed over illegal acquisition of assets and the other is a narcotics case.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found that Samrat had illegally accumulated wealth worth Tk1,000 crore abroad. The anti-graft body is trying to find more information on his wealth, which is still undisclosed.
On October 6, 2019, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Samrat, former president of Dhaka South Jubo League, and his close aide Arman, former vice president of the same unit, following a countrywide crackdown on illegal casinos.
Also Read - Verdict in casino case against expelled Awami League leader Enu deferred
RAB raided Samrat’s political office in Dhaka’s Kakrail, where he had reportedly been staying since the crackdown began on September 18 that year.
Prior to his arrest, the government imposed a travel ban against him on September 24, 2019.
The elite police unit conducted drives at several establishments where Samrat had either lived or carried out political and business activities.
A RAB mobile court sentenced Samrat to six months’ imprisonment for possessing wild animal hides, and another six months for possessing illegal liquor.
RAB filed two cases against Samrat at Ramna police station the day after the arrest.
On November 24 last year, the Kashimpur Jail authorities admitted the former Jubo League leader to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Gazipur.
He was later transferred to the ICU of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
