Police have arrested five people, including two members of a union parishad, on allegations of gambling inside a shop in Netrokona’s Barhatta upazila.
The arrests were made after police conducted a raid at a shop in Member Market, beside the paved road in Hariatola village of Asma union, shortly after midnight on Thursday. Police said they acted on a tip-off about an alleged gambling session being held at the premises.
A team from Barhatta Police Station reportedly went to Sabbir’s shop after receiving information about the gathering. Officers found several people allegedly engaged in gambling and detained five individuals from the scene. Two of those arrested are members of the Asma Union Parishad.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Liton Mia, 50, son of Nabinewaz of Hariatola village and a member of Asma Union Parishad; Sabbir Ahmed, 32, son of former member Altafur Rahman Altu of the same area; Hirendra Chandra Bishwoshorma, 42, son of Upendra Chandra Bishwoshorma; Emdadul Haque Hira, 40, son of Samsuddin of Chhoygaon village and another member of Asma Union Parishad; and Ekdil Mia, 38, son of Chanfor Ali.
According to police and local residents, allegations of gambling in the area around Member Market had existed for some time. Police said Wednesday night’s alleged gambling session at Sabbir’s shop prompted the latest operation after officers received confidential information.
The arrests come as local law-enforcement authorities say they are stepping up efforts against gambling, drugs and other criminal activities in Barhatta. Police have indicated that gambling-related gatherings can contribute to wider social and law-and-order problems, particularly when such activities become established in public commercial areas.
Following the arrests, legal proceedings were initiated against the five suspects under the applicable gambling legislation. Police said the accused were taken to court on Thursday afternoon.
Barhatta Police Station Officer-in-Charge Champak Dam said police operations against gambling, drugs and other forms of criminal activity would continue. He said a case had been filed against the arrested individuals under the relevant gambling-prevention law.
Police also described the case as the first gambling-related case registered at Barhatta Police Station. Authorities said surveillance would continue in different parts of the upazila, rather than being limited to the area where the latest arrests were made.
Residents have also been encouraged to provide information about suspected criminal activities so that police can verify the reports and take appropriate legal action where necessary.
However, the allegations against the five arrested individuals have not yet been judicially determined. Their arrest and the filing of the case do not constitute a finding of guilt, and the truth of the allegations will ultimately be established through the court proceedings.
