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On Thursday, July 17, Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-6, presided over by Judge Zakaria Hossain, issued an order framing charges against Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, the expelled leader of Dhaka South Jubo League, in a case of illegal wealth acquisition. The court has scheduled August 17 for the hearing of evidence. Additionally, the court canceled Samrat’s bail and issued an arrest warrant against him.
On the day of the hearing, Samrat did not appear in court. His lawyer cited illness and requested an extension of time. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) urged the court to frame charges. After hearing both sides, the court ordered the framing of charges against Samrat and issued an arrest warrant following the cancellation of his bail.
On January 25, the same court had framed charges against Samrat in a separate case under the Arms Act, initiating the trial and issuing an arrest warrant in that case as well.
On November 12, 2019, ACC Deputy Director Md. Jahangir Alam filed the case against Samrat, accusing him of amassing illegal wealth worth BDT 294.8 million. Following the investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet to the court on November 26, 2020.
On September 18, 2019, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uncovered an illegal casino operation in Dhaka’s Motijheel club area, after which Samrat went into hiding. On October 7, RAB arrested Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram, Cumilla. Later that day, RAB conducted a raid at Samrat’s office in Bhuiya Trade Center, Kakrail, recovering a foreign pistol with bullets, 1,160 yaba tablets, 19 bottles of foreign liquor, two kangaroo hides, and electric equipment allegedly used for torture. Between April 10 and May 11, 2022, Samrat secured bail in four cases.
