Dhaka, Sept. 27 -- It can be difficult to keep up with the political heat that forced out the top two leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), ruling party Awami League's powerful student front, on September 14, apparently at the wishes of the prime minister, and eventually snowballed into a major clampdown on gambling, as the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on September 18 raided at least six illegal casinos in Dhaka city and arrested a Jubo League leader who had also run afoul of the premier's good graces.

During the raids, the elite force also seized around Tk 40 lakh, gambling equipment and illegal liquor, among other items, from three of the casinos. Many of these casinos were reportedly run by leaders of ruling party affiliate ...