Bangladesh fights illegal online gambling, arrests suspects

• A total of 116 online gambling websites are blocked after a comprehensive police operation in Malibagh, Bangladesh
• Police detained eight suspects, including a person who is believed to be the leader of the criminal group
• In case the suspects are found guilty, they can face tough penalties

Nearly a dozen members, including a suspected leader, involved in an illegal gambling operation in Bangladesh, were arrested by law enforcement.

The group generated proceeds from illegal gambling

The operation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and impacted the operation of more than 100 illegal gambling websites, local media outlets suggest.

In total, police detained eight suspected members, including an alleged mastermind behind the scheme.

The arrests follow raids conducted by law enforcement at different areas across Malibagh, a neighborhood in Dhaka, the country’s capital.

During the operations against the illegal gambling ring, the CID’s Cyber Police Center (CPC) seized a significant amount of evidence, including devices, equipment and other assets.

The eight people suspected of being involved in the criminal organization are between the ages of 26 and 40, a report released by the Business Standard suggests.

According to CID Chief Additional IGP Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, who was recently quoted by the media outlet, the criminal organization has been operating for quite some time, running domestic and international online gambling platforms.

"On these sites, gamblers used to transact money using mobile banking services - bKash, Rocket and Nagad, various bank accounts and crypto wallets. Later, the illegally acquired money was smuggled abroad through cryptocurrencies and digital hundi," he explained.

In total, law enforcement identified 116 online gambling websites and requested that access to them be blocked by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

In the fight against illegal gambling, law enforcement usually takes down online gambling and betting websites, while also seizing assets.

The suspects, if proven guilty, may face tough penalties under the laws in Bangladesh.

Online gambling penalties under the country’s Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 carry a penalty of up to two years in prison, a hefty monetary fine, or both.

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