High alert at Benapole amid anti-casino drive

Immigration police at the check post of Benapole land port have been kept on high alert to prevent those involved in casino business from leaving the country, reports UNB.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Benapole immigration police confirmed the matter on Friday night.

Mohsin Khan, officer-in-charge of Benapole immigration police, said surveillance has been increased at the check post and border areas.

The immigration authorities are checking the names, addresses, photos and finger prints of all the outgoing passengers at the check post to prevent the criminals fleeing to India using fake passports, he added.

Benapole immigration police received a directive from the Special Branch (SB) of police to prevent Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, president of Jubo League's Dhaka South unit, and nine Nepal citizens from leaving the country through the land port, said the OC.

Commander lieutenant colonel Selim Reza, and commander lieutenant colonel Imran Ullah Sarkar of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB 49 and 21 battalion respectively), said BGB members have been kept on high alert so that the state declared criminals cannot leave the country.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said those who got the share of the casino money, no matter whether they belong to Awami League, other parties, or the police administration, won’t be spared.

Stating that the government has started the drive against casino business from its own party, he said prime minister Sheikh Hasina has directed not to spare anyone involved in it.