A Dhaka court on Saturday sent casino scandal figure Salim Prodhan and eight others to jail in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Gulshan Police Station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhazur Rahman passed the order after police produced the accused before the court.

Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Habibur Rahman, the investigating officer, submitted a petition seeking detention of the accused in jail, while defence lawyers sought their bail. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail pleas and ordered their imprisonment.

The accused are Salim Prodhan, Rakibul Islam Rafi, Sadikul Islam Sumon, Toufikul Islam, Rifat Hasan, Robiul Hasan, Minhazur Rahman Tajbir, Mehedi Hasan, and Saimum Islam.

Police arrested them around 2:30am on Saturday in the capital’s Baridhara area. During the raid, law enforcers seized 6.7 kilograms of shisha, seven shisha stands, and other related equipment. A case was filed the same day under the Narcotics Control Act.

Salim first came under public spotlight during the anti-casino drives in 2019. He was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on September 30, 2019, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while attempting to fly to Thailand. 

Subsequent raids on his residence and office led to the recovery of large amounts of local and foreign currency, as well as foreign liquor.

He was later convicted of amassing illegal wealth and money laundering, for which he received a four-year prison sentence.

In 2024, Salim submitted nomination papers for the Rupganj Upazila Parishad chairman post. However, the returning officer cancelled his candidacy during scrutiny, citing his conviction as grounds for disqualification.

MN/