Dhaka, Sept 26 – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three salespersons during the raid at the capital’s Fu Wang Club on early on Thursday and sealed off the club after what it said seizing a huge amount of illegal liquor.However, previously, police raided the club and found no irregularities. In a media call Md Sawrar Bin Kashem, RAB’s Legal and Media wing Director told the journalist that as many as 2,000 bottles of foreign liquor, 10,000 cans of locally-produced beer and Tk 700,000 in cash have been seized in the almost 12-hour-long raid which unfolded at Thursday midnight The detained employees were identified as Jahid, Xavier Jerry Dcosta and Chanchal. The trio was held on charge of selling alcohol beyond the permissible limit of the license. Rab headquarters and Rab-1 jointly raided the club.
The owner of the club is Monirul Islam, during the drive we did not find him but we are trying to detain him, said the RAB Commander.
Sarowar Bin Kashem said nearly three percent of the alcohol bottles at the club were illegally stored and the club could not show the relevant papers for the extra alcohol.
The drugs of this club were also sold outside and also the non members’ people got the availability to access the club. The drive was conducted by Executive magistrate Anisur Rahman and Nizam Uddin.
“In a clear violation to the narcotics laws, the club used to sell liquor to non-members,” he said.
The club will be sealed and a case will be filed either under the Special Powers Act neither Narcotics Control Act against them, the RAB official added.
When asked about the previous raid at the club, Sarwar said: ‘It was a different raid and we are not concerned about it. Our raid has found irregularities here.’
Earlier, on Monday the Dhaka Metropolitan Police raided the club at the capital’s Tejgaon on allegations of running a casino, but no irregularities were found.
Dhaka district administration’s Executive Magistrate Md Abdul Al Mamun, who led the police raid then said: ‘The club has a bar, but the authorities has produced us license for the business.’
The club’s Manager Md Shamim Billah told the media then they had permission to run the bar, but no gambling facilities were there.
Since September 18, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police raided different clubs across Bangladesh, busting illegal casinos. Several people, including Jubo league leaders, were detained in these raids. – Staff Reporter
