Gambling, obscene dances in name of jatra go on

Gambling and obscene dances in the name of jatra (open air drama) have been disturbing social life at four villages in Lalmonirhat district, and only gambling is going on in 15 villages every night.

Locals said police knew about the anti-social activities but were not taking any action for unknown reason.

Aditmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jahurul Islam Jahir, taking help of village-cops (Gram Police) and the union parishad chairman and members, burned down a stage for gambling and obscene dances at the remote char Kutirpar village of Mahishkhocha union of the upazila in the Teesta River basin on Monday morning. 

Locals said Abdul Haque, a leader of an identified gamblers' syndicate, had been arranging gambling and obscene dances in the name of jatra in the remote char area for months. The UNO took action against this offence on a complaint lodged by the villagers.

Local people at Ananda Bazar village in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila alleged that some identified gamblers have been arranging illegal gambling and obscene dances at Ananda Bazar every night for the last few weeks. The same has been going on at Namuri village, the border point of Aditmari and Kaliganj upazila, for the last few months. 

Teesta River char Dawabari of Hatibandha upazila, and Panbari bordering village of Patgram upazila have been suffering from the same problem for the last few days. 

When contacted, the officers-in-charge of five police stations in the district said they did not know that obscene dances and gambling were being held every night. Police will conduct drive against such activities if they get information, they said.  

Aditmari UNO Jahurul Islam said he always takes strict action against social crimes, including gambling, obscene dances and child marriage in the upazila. He is ready round the clock, and just needs to know where to conduct the drive, he said.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) in Lalmonirhat, TM Mozahidul Islam, said he has zero-tolerance for social crimes, especially those involving drugs, gambling and obscene dances. 

Action will be taken against the policemen who do not take steps to prevent such activities.