Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Saturday sent Salim Prodhan, a controversial figure linked to the casino scandal, and eight other individuals to jail in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Gulshan Police Station.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhazur Rahman passed the order after the police produced them before the court.
Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Habibur Rahman, also the investigating officer of the case, submitted a petition seeking detention of the accused in jail, while the defence sought their bail.
After hearing, the court rejected the bail pleas and ordered that the accused be sent to jail
Apart from Salim, other accused are – Rakibul Islam Rafi, Sadikul Islam Sumon, Toufikul Islam, Rifat Hasan, Robiul Hasan, Minhazur Rahman Tajbir, Mehedi Hasan, and Saimum Islam.
Around 2:30am on Saturday, acting on a tip-off, the police arrested the accused in the capital’s Baridhara area and seized 6.7kg of shisha, seven shisha stands, and other related equipment.
A case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Gulshan Police Station the same day.
Earlier, during the nationwide anti-casino drives, Salim was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 30 September 2019, while attempting to board a flight to Thailand.
Following his arrest, raids were conducted at his home and office, where large amounts of local and foreign currency, along with foreign liquor, were seized.
Convicted in cases of amassing illegal wealth and money laundering, Salim was sentenced to four years in prison.
In 2024, he submitted nomination papers to contest for the chairman post of Rupganj Upazila Parishad. However, his candidacy was cancelled by the returning officer during scrutiny, as his conviction in a criminal case disqualified him from the election.
