Clubs at Bangladesh can finally heave a sigh of relief. For the next eight weeks, that is.
A quick recap if you’re just joining us: Recently, the High Court directed the Bangladeshi government to “immediately stop gambling” activities such as dice, card and housie at 13 clubs across the country, including the Dhaka Club, Uttara Club Ltd, Gulshan Club Ltd, Dhanmondi Club Ltd, Banani Club Ltd, Officers’ Club Dhaka, Ladies’ Club Dhaka, Cadet College Club Dhaka, Chittagong Club Ltd, Chittagong Seniors’ Club Ltd, Narayanganj Club Ltd, Sylhet Club Ltd and Khulna Club Ltd.
The court ruling was in response to a writ petition filed by two Supreme Court lawyers Samiul Huq and Rokonuddin Md Faruq, which cited provisions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978 and Public Gambling Act, 1867 and Article 18(2) of the constitution.
The High Court also gave the authorities concerned four weeks to explain “why they should not be directed to take actions against the unlawful business and indoor games of cards, dice and housie in exchange for money.”
That order was upheld by the Supreme Court, which led to The Dhaka Club filing a petition seeking a stay, arguing that the gambling activities in the club were arranged “only for their members.”
Initially, the four-member bench of the Appellate Division refused to budge and declared that the high court’s order “will remain in force until further order.” But after the Dhaka Club submitted a leave to appeal petition, the bench—headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha—finally stayed the order of the High Court for eight weeks.
The four judge bench also asked the High Court “to expeditiously hear and finally dispose of the ruling it had made on this particular issue of gambling in clubs within this period of time,” according to Glaws.in’s Jay Sayta.
With the appellate court’s order, the clubs can resume their activities until the High Court finally rules on the issue.
