In Narsingdi, several well-known businessmen have fallen into financial ruin due to gambling addictions — some losing their jewelry shops, others fleeing abroad to escape mounting debts.
One such case is that of Arafat Khan (pseudonym), a reputed jeweler from Narsingdi. Once the owner of a large jewelry shop in Chattogram, Arafat was deeply addicted to high-stakes card games. On a fateful night, he wagered his entire shop and lost everything — including gold worth millions of taka and the shop keys.
Determined to start over, Arafat took a massive bank loan and reopened a jewelry store in Narsingdi. Business flourished for a while, but his old habits resurfaced. Once again, he lost everything in gambling. Unable to repay the bank loans, Arafat abandoned his ancestral home and fled to a neighboring country. His addiction cost him not only his wealth but also the chance to see his mother one last time before her death.
Arafat’s story is not an isolated one. Several others in Narsingdi have fallen victim to the lure of gambling — selling their homes, closing businesses, or leaving the country under pressure from creditors.
Sources say that every year during the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket season, gambling surges in the region. As cricket fever grips television screens, online betting rings thrive in the alleys of Narsingdi, Madhabdi, Shibpur, and Palash.
According to local reports, betting is carried out via Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook groups, controlled by Dhaka-based syndicates who launder millions of taka abroad each season. Transactions are made through mobile banking services like bKash and Nagad, often routed to foreign accounts.
A businessman from Hajipur, requesting anonymity, said, “It started as fun — I placed a 500-taka bet and won 20,000 in a day. But soon I got addicted and began playing with lakhs. In the end, I lost everything. I had to sell my shop. Now my family is in turmoil.”
In another case, a young man from Shibpur left his family and fled to Dubai after losing several lakh taka in online betting. His relatives said he became mentally distressed and left home without notice.
Social analysts warn that unemployment, the desire for quick wealth, and unrestricted internet access are fueling a dangerous rise in gambling addiction. Young people, in particular, are becoming entangled in financial and criminal crises through online platforms.
Holadhar Das, General Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Narsingdi district unit, said, “Many students are dropping out of educational institutions, and HSC pass rates have declined this year. As a result, young people are straying into gambling and substance abuse. Without strict law enforcement and community awareness, it will be difficult to control this growing menace.”
He further warned, “If this continues, education rates will drop further, and soon we may not even find enough students for higher education.”
Md. Emdadul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Narsingdi Sadar Model Police Station, said, “We rarely receive formal complaints about online or IPL gambling. Even when we do, specific evidence is often lacking. However, we conduct raids whenever actionable information is available.”
He added, “To curb online gambling, surveillance in cyberspace must be intensified. Alongside legal measures, families and communities must play an active role in preventing gambling addiction.”
