CID Identifies 116 Online Gambling Websites, Sends Shutdown Request to BTRC

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has identified 116 websites allegedly involved in online gambling and sent a list to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) requesting their shutdown. At the same time, eight members of a syndicate have been arrested over allegations of laundering crores of taka abroad through the gambling operations.

The information was disclosed on Sunday, May 17, during a press conference held at the CID headquarters in Malibagh by CID chief and Additional Inspector General of Police Mosleh Uddin Ahmed.

While speaking at the briefing, the CID chief said the agency’s “Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Unit” conducted a special cyber patrol operation from May 1 to May 17. Through continuous monitoring, investigators were able to identify 116 illegal gambling websites operating actively in Bangladesh.

According to CID, the sites had been targeting the country’s youth while facilitating gambling and illegal financial transactions. An official list has already been sent to BTRC in the public interest to ensure the websites are quickly taken down or blocked.

CID further said that, as part of routine surveillance, its cyber unit recently uncovered an organized criminal network allegedly laundering crores of taka abroad under the cover of online gambling operations. During a special operation, eight members of the syndicate, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested.

However, CID did not immediately disclose the identities of the arrested individuals, citing the ongoing investigation.

Additional IGP Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said, “CID’s cyber monitoring activities to prevent online gambling and related illegal financial activities or money laundering will continue regularly from now on. Our investigation is ongoing to uncover the full details behind these crimes and identify the remaining unidentified members of the syndicate to bring them under the law.”

DBTech/SH/OR