Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, the expelled president of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo League, also known as Casino Samrat, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in an arms-related case.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday (28 October) by Judge Md. Ibrahim Mia of Dhaka Special Tribunal-2. As the accused is currently on the run, an arrest warrant has been issued against him, confirmed by the tribunal’s Additional Public Prosecutor Billal Hossain.
On 6 October 2019, Samrat was arrested in Chauddagram, Comilla by the RAB. Following his arrest, a raid was conducted at his Kakrail office, where a large quantity of foreign liquor, pistols, and rare wildlife skins were seized. For possession of the wildlife skins, he received a six-month prison sentence from a mobile court.
The next day, on 7 October, RAB-1’s DAD Abdul Khalek filed a case under the Narcotics and Arms Act at Ramna Police Station. After investigation, on 6 November 2020, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Shekhar Chandra Mallik of RAB-1, submitted the charge sheet in the arms case.
On 16 January 2025, charges were formally framed against Samrat, and the trial began. As the accused was not present, his bail was canceled, and an arrest warrant was issued. During the trial, out of 14 witnesses, 10 were examined. After the final arguments on 7 October, the court announced the verdict today.