-- 5 detained

--Kalabagan Krira Chakra chief among the detainees

--Firearm, yaba tablets and bullets seized

--Another drive at Dhanmondi Club starts

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained Kalabagan Krira Chakra Club President Shafiqul Alam Feroz and his four associates from the club in capital Dhaka tonight.

Feroz, also a member of central executive committee of Krishak League, was detained after Rab-2 members seized a firearm, bullets and yaba tablets during a drive in the club, reports our staff reporter from the spot.

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Law enforcers seized firearm, bullets and yaba tablets during a drive in a club in Kalabagan area of Dhaka on September 20, 2019. Photo: Star

After conducting the raid, Lt Col Ashique Billah, commanding officer of the Rab-2, told reporters: “A revolver, three bullets, 100-150 yaba pills, three cartons of playing cards and some score cards for gambling were found during the raid.

Feroz, also member of central executive committee of Krishak League, was detained by Rab-2 members on September 20, 2019. Photo: Star

Four other detainees are Hafizul Islam, Harun, Anwar Hossain and Liton Miah.

Earlier in the day, the elite force members cordoned off the club since around 4:00pm suspecting that some people have been running casino business in the Krira Chakra club situated at Kalabagan.

cartons of playing cards and some score cards for gambling are found by Rab members during a drive at Kalabagan Krira Chakra Club in capital Dhaka on September 20, 2019. Photo: Star

Later, the law enforcers led by Gausul Azam, executive magistrate of Rab Headquarters, entered the club around 7:15pm.

Meanwhile, another team of Rab members began another drive at Dhanmondi Club Limited on the sixth floor of Metro Shopping Mall on Mirpur Road around 9:15pm, reports our staff correspondent from the spot.

The shopping mall is situated in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

After the drive, Shahabuddin, company commander of Rab 2, told reporters that the bar of Dhanmondi Club was sealed off for 24 hours, saying that the club was closed today and they could not verify the quantity of liquors in its register and stock, even there were no authorities of club.

"The club has the license of the bar. But there were some irregularities as we found elements of gambling here," said Shahabuddin.

The Rab official also said they will verify the liquors tomorrow whether there are any irregularities.

On September 18, Rab raided at least five clubs in Dhaka city, arrested 182 people in connection with running “casinos”, gambling, and drug abuse, and sealed off at least two clubs. 

Rab also arrested Jubo League Dhaka South Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan at his Gulshan home for running a “casino” at a football club in Fakirerpool in the city.