“If it’s found that the casinos were running with support from the administration or anyone was involved in it then action will be taken,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the afternoon.
Replying to a query, he said, such drives will continue in all the illegal clubs and businesses, not only in casinos.
‘’We didn’t issue licenses for casinos. Government approval is needed for running casinos. That’s why law enforcers conducted the drive in casinos yesterday,” he said.
Asked about delayed crackdown on casinos, he said law enforcers took action against Kalabagan Club earlier for same offences.
Sought comments about Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury’s allegation about law enforcers’ inaction for a long time against the business, the minister said the authorities concerned took action as soon as they got information about casinos.
Asked about the Prime Minister’s directives in this regard, he said the PM always says that no-one is above the law and she instructed repeatedly to take action against militancy, drug abuses and terrorism.
On Wednesday, Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan, organising secretary of Dhaka South city unit of Jubo League and also president of Fakirerpool Youngmen’s Club, from Gulshan area for running an illegal casino.
Three firearms, including an unauthorised one along with bullets, and Yaba pills were recovered from his possession.
The arrest came after a Rab mobile court detained 142 people from the casino.
Besides, Tk 24 lakh in cash, foreign liquor and some casino boards were seized from the club.
Meanwhile,the elite force sealed off three more casinos in Banani, Motijheel and Gulistan areas.
A total of 182 people were detained from two casinos in the city on the day.
Addressing a discussion arranged by Media for Development and Peace (MDP) at the Jatiya Press Club later in the day, the Home Minister said the government will not allow anyone to run any illegal business and Wednesday's casino raid was carried out as part of that effort to stop such activities.
Asaduzzaman said illegal casinos have sprung up across capital Dhaka over the past one year and the government will shut them down soon.
According to media reports, there are 60 illegal casinos in the capital.
Gambling takes place regularly at the casinos situated in Segunbagicha, Motijheel, Fakirerpool, Dilkusha, Bank Colony, Arambagh, Nayapaltan, Kakrail, Gulistan, OsmaniUdyan, Bangabazar, Gulshan Link Road, Uttara, New Market and Kalabagan areas.