Gambler brothers Enamul, Rupan own 120 flats, 15 houses

Just 10 years ago, the two brothers -- Enamul Haque and Rupan Bhuiyan -- had nothing but a small scrap iron shop at Baniyanagar in Gandaria area of Dhaka. They used to live in a tin-roofed behind the shop.

But, in a matter of just 10 years they have bought 120 flats and several plots of land in and outside Dhaka, amssing wealth through the casino business.

The brothers who were arrested over their involvement in the casino business last January confessed this during interrogation.

The brothers' fortune changed once they joined the casino business through a Nepali man. Enamul and Rupan became partners of the Dhaka Wanderers Club. They played key role in introducing One-Ten and later the casino business in the club community.

There are allegations that they bought positions in the Awami League with huge amounts of money and Enamaul became vice-president of the thana Awami League in Gandaria and Rupan Bhuiyan a joint general secretary.

They went in hiding after the the anti-casino drive began on 18 September last year.

Following their arrest, earlier on 13 January, Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took them on a four-day remand in a case filed over money laundering.

During the grilling, Enamul and Rupan confessed that they have joint ownership of more than 100 flats in Dhaka and five bigha of land outside Dhaka. Their mother, seven brothers and one sister jointly owned the land.

They were on the casino board with their father, but on the tax files their source of income was shown as the tiny Enu-Rupan Steel Mills in the tax file.

Enamul and Rupan have six flats behind the factory. RAB raided the houses of Rupan and Enamul on fourth and first floor of the building and seized Tk 15 million and 8 kilograms of gold and five firearms.

This reporter went to the house, but no one responded. A neibour on anonymity said a single flat in the area where the brothers live costs at least 4 million.

On 24 September 2019, RAB raided several houses of Rupan and Enamul and two houses of their employees and seized Tk 50 million and 705 kilograms of gold.

They have six buildings and a house nearby Lanmohan Saha Street. The have 27 flats and two plots in the area as well.

The brothers also have 14 flats in a seven-storey building in Dakkhin Moisundi, 17 flats in 10-storey building at Shah Shaheb Lane, four flats in a six-storey building and 13 flats in a four-storey building.

In Narinda area, the family jointly owned 16 flats in two buildings.

The brothers also have 12 flats at Guru Das Sardar Lane and a tin-roofed house in Distillery Road. They have also built a house on 15-katha land in Keraniganj.

The gambler brothers procured a 10-katha plot of land in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj while 12 decimals of land in Naria and 34 decimals in Palang, Shariatpur.

The CID officials said Enamul and Rupan have Tk 190 million in their 91 bank accounts and five vehicles.

Special superintendent of CID and additional super of police Minhajul Islam told Prothom Alo that they even did not even study up till Class Ten. They used to conduct the casino business in association with a Nepali man named Harry.

They tried to go Nepal with fake passports before their arrest.