‘Casino kingpin’ Samrat stages showdown

Expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat staged a showdown in the capital yesterday, a day after he was released from a hospital in the city. 

One of the "casino kingpins" in Dhaka, Samrat along with several thousand followers, went to Dhanmondi Road 32 around 4:00pm to place a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He was arrested in Cumilla during the anti-casino drive in 2019.

On Monday, Samrat secured bail in a money laundering case while he was in the prison cell of BSMMU. He had earlier been granted bail in three other cases filed over possession of arms and narcotics, money laundering and amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.

Around 2:00pm yesterday, Samrat's followers riding on motorcycles and pickups started thronging Dhanmondi 32 from different parts of the city, creating traffic jams in and around Mirpur Road and Dhanmondi areas.

Dressed in black, Samrat reached Dhanmondi 32 around 4:00pm and placed a wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

He cheerfully exchanged greetings with his supporters there.

The ex-Jubo League leader came under the spotlight after Rab busted his illegal casino business at different sporting clubs in Dhaka. Following his arrest, he was expelled from the youth wing of the ruling Awami League.

Samrat, who had been undergoing treatment in the cardiac ward of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), walked out of hospital on Thursday afternoon.

He secured bail in a money laundering case on Monday while he was in the prison cell of the hospital.

His bail will remain effective till September 19, according to his lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samazi.

Rasul Amin Shipon, associate professor of BSMMU's cardiology department and the head of the unit, told The Daily Star, "I have given him [Samrat] clearance from the hospital on Thursday. As he has been released on bail, he will now decide where to continue his treatment."