Appellate court halts order to stop gambling at Bangladeshi clubs

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.”