Khaled formed large gang to expand clout

Expelled Jubo League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan formed a large criminal gang to expand his clout after he became the organising secretary of the youth front’s Dhaka south unit in 2012, a Rab probe found.

He used to brandish illegal firearms to show off his influence and manipulated tenders. He also ran illegal casino, gambling, and drugs businesses, said the probe report submitted to a Dhaka court.

Rab Assistant Director Belayet Hossain, also the investigation officer of the case filed under the Arms Act, submitted the charge sheet yesterday, completing the probe in just over a month.

This is the first charge sheet submitted in a case related to the drive against illegal casinos that started on September 18.

The case was filed against Khaled with Gulshan Police Station a day after Rab arrested him at his Gulshan residence on the first day of the crackdown.

He was arrested on charges of running a casino at a football club in Fakirapool.

During the raid, Rab seized three firearms, 57 bullets, yaba pills and foreign currencies worth Tk 7. 64 lakh and Tk 10.34 lakh in cash.

One of the firearms had no licence, 16 of the bullets were illegal, and licence for the two other firearms had been expired.

Three other cases were filed against him with Gulshan and Motijheel police stations.

According to the charges pressed yesterday, he is known as a ferocious underground criminal and he established a reign of terror in Motijheel, Arambagh, Fakirapool, Shahjahanpur, Mugda, Kamalapur, Rampura and Sabujbagh.

Khaled also used to extort money from public transport companies and cattle and fish markets in the areas.

His firm Bhuiyan and Bhuiyan controlled tender in government offices including the Rajuk, Dhaka South City Corporation, Krira Parishad, Water Development Board, WASA’s Fakirapool zone, Jubo Bhaban and Krishi Bhaban, the charge sheet added.

He has a large armed gang to control the illegal businesses, it added.

In the charge sheet submitted to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka, the investigator listed 15 people as prosecution witnesses.

Jubo League, the youth wing of ruling Awami League, expelled Khaled on September 20 for breaching the organisation’s discipline and his involvement in anti-social activities.