A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking directions for necessary measures to ensure the closure of bars and alcohol-serving establishments by 11pm across various parts of the country, including the capital’s Gulshan, Banani, and Uttara.
Supreme Court lawyer SM Zulfikar Ali Junu filed the petition on Thursday.
Seven respondents have been named in the petition – the secretary of Protection Services Division of home ministry, the inspector general of police (IGP), the director general of Department of Narcotics Control, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, the director general of relevant specialised police unit, the chairman of National Board of Revenue, and the commissioner of Dhaka Custom House.
According to the petition, in cases where specific closing times are set for bars or alcohol-serving establishments under a valid licence, government gazette notification, order, rule, or any other legal document, those specified time limits must be strictly and uniformly enforced.
Additionally, the petition requests the court to direct the relevant authorities to examine and consider whether a uniform policy can be introduced to halt bar and alcohol service by 11pm if no uniform national closing time is currently set for all bars in the country, and to reach a decision in accordance with the law.
