In the evening of May 8, the NYPD arrested Abul Kalam Sareng, Shawkat Hossen Belal and Dulal, officers at the Bangladeshi community organization, Companyganj Welfare Association, who were led off in handcuffs and later released on bail. The arrests seemed to make no impression on the gamblers.

A Thikana investigation revealed that like at the Church-McDonald area in Brooklyn, illegal gambling joints are now common in various parts of Queens, including Jackson Heights, Astoria, Jamaica, Ozone Park and Newkirk. People are admitted into the gambling places only if they are recognized at the door.

A few dozen Bangladeshis visit these places regularly, month after month, and persist with this ruinous addiction. Most of the gamblers' families live in Bangladesh, while the lion's share of the men's earnings accumulated after 18 or 19 years living abroad is lost to gambling. Some of these men are green-card holders, which would allow them to visit their families back home. Although there is no shortage of money to place on the gamblers' table – some of the men claim to make an average of $150 a day – some allege financial hardship prevents them from returning to Bangladesh to visit their families.

Among the gamblers you find construction contractors, construction laborers, and taxi drivers. Some are on welfare. A sizable number of businessmen from the community make good money attracting gamblers to tables they set up in basements or the back of grocery stores, or using rooms in residential houses.

Several years back the police picked up 29 gamblers from the Church-McDonald area, tied them up with rope around their waists and sent them to court. Among those arrested were several Bangladeshi community leaders. Again, the community if faced with a similar incident, bringing great embarrassment to all community members who witnessed the poor behavior of a small number of their leaders, who were elected to serve the community. Those who speak about ethics at community meetings and rallies are among the regular customers at these tables.

Talking to some of the gamblers, Thikana learnt that the illegal gambling tables function close to 24 hours a day, and the owner of the basement or the room is paid at least $50 for each player who sits at the table. There are also those who provide services to the gamblers who earn at least $100 for the day or night shifts. The gamblers, however, need not concern themselves with these expenses since they are paid out of the winner's proceeds.

"We have been addicted to gambling out of mental ache. We have no green card, no work, so what else do we have than this gambling to spend our time?" one of the gamblers lamented.

But the community in general is cursing them for bringing corruption among them.