Korean International Club raided in Bangladesh

by News Desk
August 2, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1616/korean-international-club-raided-in-bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] along with Narcotic Control Department in Bangladesh raided Korean International Club in Dhaka during late hours of July 29, 2011 and seized 1,722 bottles of liquor along with 7,080 cans of beer, which were being reportedly sold inside the club illegally. During the raid, RAB arrested South Korean national Kang Jong Cho along with a local staff named Abdur Rahman. A case has been lodged under Narcotic Act with Gulshan police station in this connection.

Korean International Club is operating in Dhaka for many years, which is a recreation center for South Korean investors and nationals living in Bangladesh.

RAB sources said, the raid was conducted following secret tips from its sources. It said, similar raids will also be conducted in a number of restaurants in Gulshan and Banani area, where, alcoholic beverage is being sold or served illegally. Under local laws, serving of alcoholic beverage in restaurant is punishable offense unless it possess license for serving such items.

Following the arrest of South Korean national from Korean International Club, a large section of Korean investors as well as South Korean buyers of textile and other items from Bangladesh have expressed anger and dissatisfaction. They said, under Bangladeshi law, foreigners are allowed to buy and consume alcoholic beverages from the ware houses, and the Korean International Club was the only recreation place for the South Korean nationals residing in Dhaka.

They said such actions by the law enforcing agencies has not only annoyed the foreign investors but it also clearly shows that the government is unwilling to show minimum courtesy to the foreign investors and buyers.

On condition of anonymity a local entrepreneur told Weekly Blitz that, such unfriendly attitude of RAB or law enforcing agencies towards the foreign investors and their exclusive recreation clubs clearly leave a bad signal, which will not ultimately bring any good result for Bangladesh. The government needs to immediately look into this matter and in case of necessity, issue required license to Korean International Club and release the arrested foreign national and the local staff.

Though RAB and narcotic department raided the Korean International Club, alcoholic beverages are being sold and consumed in a number of local clubs and restaurants in Bangladesh. Fu Wang Club, which is located at Gulshan area, is known to be the center of open sale of alcoholic beverages and drugs as well as prostitution. This club has been ignored by the law enforcing agencies as a large number of high-ranking government officials and politicians are regularly seen at this place. Fu Wang Club is also a pick up point of local sex workers.

There is also another trend of selling drugs in Dhaka under the garb of "Hookah Parlor". It is learnt that, owners of such "Hookah Lounge" are serving Yaba to their clients on a regular basis. There is mushroom growth of "Hookah Lounge" in the city, which is greatly targeting the youngsters. On investigation it was found that, visitors at "Hookah Lounge" at Dhaka's Beily Road area or Gulshan-Dhanmondi area are buying Yaba at the price of TK. 750-1000, which is hidden in Hookah. Some of the "Hookah Lounge" is also visibly center of immoral activities. The owners of the Hookah Lounges keep the inside of these places dark, allowing the customers to be involved in un-social or immoral activities. Customers hiring private rooms in Hookaah parlors are even provided wet-tissues and condoms along side the food.

Hookah lounges are also known as "Shisha Lounge" or "Shisha Parlor".

Right now, in Dhaka, there are quite many Shisha Lounges, a few naming, Shanghai Café Hookah Lounge, Regency Hotel Shisha World, Café Village, Atrium Shisha Lounge, Samarkand Shisha Lounge, Leisure Lounge, X Lounge and so on.

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