The High Court (HC) has directed the authorities concerned to take steps to stop sale of liquor including beer and alcohol by the unlicensed bars in Gulshan and Banani areas.
Responding to a writ petition recently, the HC also asked them to submit a compliance report before the court about its order within 10 days.
A HC bench comprising Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md. Khasruzzaman passed the order early December.
It also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why their inaction to stop sale of narcotics in around 40 unlicensed restaurants in those posh areas should not be declared illegal.
The HC, in its rule, also sought explanation as to why persons, involved in the illegal practice, should not be brought under book.
The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a rights body, filed the writ petition with
the HC on the basis of a newspaper report.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel of HRPB, told the FE Tuesday, "Officials of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) earlier informed me that they were taking measures to stop the practice."
However, about update on the compliance report and HC rule, Mr Murshid said that it is likely to be known after the ongoing vacation in the Supreme Court (SC).
He argued before the court that the sale of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages by the unlicensed mini-bars in Gulshan and Banani were negatively affecting the area's inhabitants, especially the youth.
In the rule, the Home Secretary, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner and the Director General of the DNC and its concerned inspectors responsible for Gulshan and Banani areas were made respondents.
Meanwhile, another HC bench has imposed injunction on operation of four restaurants in Gulshan Avenue and sale of alcohol by the Eastern Diplomatic Services Ltd (EDSL) in open market, sources said.
The four restaurants are Wasabi, Le Souffle, The Deli and Med Lounge Tapas.
The HC bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Md. Jahangir Hossain passed the order following a writ petition filed by executive director of Save the Rural Development Association Murad Bhuiyan.
Advocate Iqbal Kabir appeared for the association in the court. "The HC injection remains in force," Mr Kabir told the FE Tuesday.
The four restaurants and EDSL are concerns of the Glaxy Group that is doing shipping and aviation business and representing Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Hapag LIoyd in Bangladesh.
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