Dhaka, Oct. 28 -- A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced former Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, an alleged kingpin of the illegal casino business in Dhaka, to life imprisonment in a case filed over illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Judge Md Ibrahim Miah of Dhaka Second Special Tribunal handed down the judgment in absence of the convict as he has been absconding since the beginning of the trial.

This is the first conviction among several cases filed against Samrat on various criminal charges.

Samrat came under the spotlight after an anti-casino drive led by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) exposed illegal gambling operations in Dhaka's Motijheel on September 18, 2019.

Following the operation,...