Who is Salim Prodhan?

Online casino kingpin Salim Prodhan was born in Dhaka in 1973. 

According to the RAB sources, his ancestral home is in Narayanganj. Salim – the owner of "Prodhan Group" – used to link gamblers with the world's best known casinos online.

His business ventures include Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers Limited, P24 Law Firm, AU Entertainment, P24 Gaming, Prodhan House and Prodhan Magazine, Prodhan Fashion, Prodhan Beauty Care & Spa and Prodhan Salon. Through P24 gaming, he used to add gamblers in his online casino website.  

According to the website, P24 Gaming is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software, now actively involved in the fast growing casino business in Asia. 

Till 2016, they only brought computer games to the market. Later, they got involved in online casinos business. P24 Gaming Company Ltd was established in December 7, 2018 as one of the first providers of B2B Live Casino solutions in Bangladesh. They have approximately 150 operators across Bangladesh.

They have the ability to connect with the world's most popular casinos online, the website said. 

Sources said Selim Prodhan has a close relationship with the financial sector. His Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers printed cheque books for different banks, and office documents of different organizations. His company is one of the top borrowers of Rupali Bank Ltd, and Salim owes the bank around Tk100 crore.

Different law enforcement agency sources said Salim is not only involved with online casino management, he is also involved in tender grabbing, and arms smuggling through the Chapainawabganj border. 

On the other hand, he is also one of the controllers all kind of cattle sheds, and drug syndicate around the border. 

Salim also owns a beauty parlour and spa located in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, which are frequently visited by VIPs. There have been allegations of immoral activity in the spa.

Salim was arrested from a Bangkok-bound Thai Airways flight at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Monday afternoon. 

Later, RAB conducted a raid at Salim’s office cum residence at House No 11/A, Road No 99 of Dhaka’s Gulshan-2 area and arrested his associates Aktaruzzaman, Md Roman, and Masum on Monday night.

From the raid, RAB recovered 48 foreign liquor bottles; Tk2,905,000 in cash, foreign currencies from 23 different countries, of around Tk7,763,023, 12 passports, 32 cheque books of 13 banks, one large server used in game operating, and four laptops, and two pieces of deer hide.

'Online casino kingpin Salim sent money to London'

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said online casino kingpin Salim Prodhan sent money to London several times. 

He has also maintained a close relationship with Giasuddin Al Mamun, now in jail on charges of extortion, corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.

Mamun is also a close friend of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who now lives in London.

RAB 1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem made the statement at a press briefing yesterday after arresting Salim and his associate Aktaruzzaman on Monday.

Salim, Akhtaruzzaman, Roman, and Masum was jailed for 6 months under the Wildlife Conservation Act by a RAB mobile court.

RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam passed the order on Tuesday.

Two cases under the Narcotics Act and Money Laundering Act will be filed with the Gulshan police station, the official said.

How is Salim involved with online casino?

During the primary interrogation, Salim spoke of going to Japan in 1988. There he and his brother were engaged in a car business with the Japanese. Later, he went to Thailand with the Japanese and did business involving ship breaking, the RAB CO.  

In the meantime, Salim was introduced to a North Korean, Du who advised him on opening an online casino in Bangladesh, he added.

They then opened two gaming sites on P24 and T21 in 2018, and operated online casinos. They have a 50/50 partnership, the official said.