Behind the glittering facades of the capital’s nightlife, nearly half a hundred so-called “bars” have transformed into full-fledged nightclubs — epicentres of crime, vice, and lawlessness.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, these venues have become epicentres of crime — including extortion, drug peddling and violence — carried out by criminal and teenage gangs.
Ignoring all official closing times, the bars operate well into the early hours, where alcohol flows freely, and scenes of wild dancing and lavish spending unfold nightly. Many patrons, intoxicated and reckless, leave the clubs with call girls for private parties in nearby hotels or apartments. Several bars maintain “special floors” offering sexual services. Fights over hiring women are routine, and violent altercations — even killings — have occurred.
Even the recent murder of businessman Dabirul Islam inside a Gulshan bar has failed to bring meaningful action.
There are also allegations that, due to a lack of monitoring, many bars are selling counterfeit and adulterated liquor. Several people have reportedly fallen ill after consuming these drinks.
Unmonitored permits, unchecked crime
While official approval has been granted to many bars, authorities appear absent in enforcing regulations. None adhere to the requirement that patrons must present valid permits to consume alcohol.
Licences obtained at exorbitant costs — often several crores of taka — are used as a blanket excuse to operate freely. Many patrons leaving the bars late at night fall prey to muggers and local gangs lurking nearby. Victims are often stripped of all belongings before returning home shaken and empty-handed.
Police and inspectors under scrutiny
Several officers of the Narcotics Control Department and local police are accused of turning a blind eye in exchange for regular payments — “monthly shares” from bar owners. Some officers are even alleged to hold hidden ownership stakes in the bars themselves.
“The brawls and murders are police matters,” said Md Hasan Maruf, director general of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), speaking to TIMES Bangladesh.
“We are taking action against bars violating regulations. Any official found guilty of involvement will face departmental measures once proven.”
DNC official data show that Bangladesh currently has 237 licensed bars operating under 157 organisations. These include 121 hotel bars, 62 restaurant bars, 48 club bars, and four resort bars. The country also has 39 retail and wholesale (off-shop) licences for foreign liquor, six distilleries (one closed), one brewery, and 18 duty-free bonded warehouses.
Political influence and impunity
Multiple police sources allege that during the tenure of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, his son Shafi Modasser Khan Jyoti exercised informal authority over many bars, some of which were converted into nightclubs under his supervision. Following the recent change of government, control merely shifted hands — the operations continued as before, under new patrons.
With the backing of influential figures, local police remain reluctant or powerless to conduct raids.
Kamal fled the country after the ouster of the Awami League regime on 5 August last year while his son Jyoti is in jail.
‘Rules don’t matter anymore’
Major (retd) Jahangir Alam, president of the Bangladesh Bar Owners’ Association, acknowledged widespread irregularities.
“Nothing happens if the rules are ignored — so many owners simply don’t care. We’ve informed both the home ministry and the DNC director general several times, but no action followed,” he told TIMES.
He cited Margarita Lounge and Camp Fire Bar in Uttara as association members notorious for repeated violations.
“Brawls are common in bars. Tensions flare over women, and when bouncers use force, the situation worsens. Handling such incidents requires tact, not aggression,” Alam added.
Illegal liquor supply chain
DNC officials admit that bonded warehouses are meant solely for diplomats and foreigners, while bars are permitted to purchase alcohol through the tourism corporation or import it under strict conditions.
However, liquor from bonded warehouses frequently ends up in Dhaka’s bars and nightclubs, where it is sold at inflated prices with VAT evasion rampant.
Though regulations require all bars to close by 10:30pm, most remain open until dawn. Even those with “late-closing” permits — officially allowed to operate until 2:30 or 3am — routinely violate the limit. Under the guise of “live musical performances,” bars host explicit shows, and some openly facilitate call girls through “temporary permits.”
Hotspots of Dhaka’s nightlife
Gulshan circle alone hosts 43 hotels, clubs and restaurants that serve alcohol, while Uttara has around 23 establishments of various types. Complaints lodged with the DNC accuse Inspector SM Shamsul Kabir (Gulshan Circle) and Dewan Md Zillur Rahman (Uttara Circle) of collecting monthly payoffs from nearly every bar in their jurisdictions.
Both officers denied the allegations. Kabir claimed he could not even recall how many bars were under his area, while Zillur said, “How can one person visit so many places? I am not involved in any irregularities.”
Crime beyond the doors
Police data show that criminals often wait outside bars to rob intoxicated customers. Inside, gangs use the venues to plan crimes, using alcohol as both cover and commodity. Victims rarely file complaints, though local “beat police” in Gulshan, Uttara, Mirpur, and Banani reportedly maintain detailed informal lists of such incidents.
Most offenders are members of teenage gangs — some barely out of school.
Murder and violence go unpunished
According to Gulshan and Uttara West police, businessman Dabirul Islam (51) — who also served as organising secretary of Badda Thana Jubo Dal — was brutally beaten to death at Bliss Art Lounge Bar in Gulshan-1 on 14 October. Seven suspects are in remand, but several others remain at large.
Regular fights are also reported at Kingfisher Bar, prompting nightly police visits. Earlier, a patron at Margarita Lounge in Uttara was severely injured in a beating, yet police investigation stalled.
Crackdown promised
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) Md Shafiqul Islam said, “We are receiving numerous complaints about illegal activities in bars. Strict operations will be conducted against those involved.”
Another additional commissioner, SN Md Nazrul Islam (Crime and Operations), said that the police are always working to curb crime and bring offenders to justice. “Regular operations are under way,” he said.
In response to a question, he added that there are no specific allegations of police involvement in assisting the operation of bars. “If any information or evidence is found, departmental action will certainly be taken,” he said.
Corruption and collusion
DNC has received allegations against several of its officials — including Helal Uddin, Zakir Hossain, Sumonur Rahman, Nazmul (Sub-Inspector, Gulshan), Rafiqul (Airport), and former ADG Abdul Aziz — accusing them of amassing wealth through illegal involvement in the alcohol trade. All of them have denied the allegations.
Investigators also named a supplier known as Masud of Manikganj, believed to be a central figure in Dhaka’s underground liquor network serving the city’s bars.
