Independent lawmaker questions alcohol licensing requirements in Bangladesh parliament
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Independent lawmaker Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal questioned the necessity of mandatory licensing for alcohol consumption during the national budget discussion in Parliament on Thursday, arguing that the regulation creates undue opportunities for police harassment. Representing Kishoreganj-5, Iqbal challenged the rationale behind requiring a permit for personal alcohol consumption, contrasting it with standard licensing requirements for operating vehicles or businesses.
Addressing the 2026-27 fiscal year budget, the lawmaker questioned the legal classification of alcohol, asking whether it should be definitively categorized alongside illicit narcotics. He contended that the current legal framework governing alcohol consumption lacks clarity and serves primarily as a pretext for law enforcement to target citizens. He alleged that police frequently use the discovery of even a single bottle of alcohol as grounds to file criminal cases, characterizing the practice as a form of predatory behavior rather than effective drug control.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Beyond his concerns regarding alcohol regulation, Iqbal highlighted broader anxieties concerning the state of national security. He described the prevailing law and order situation as inadequate and urged the government to prioritize the enhancement of police capabilities. To address these operational deficits, he advocated for a significant increase in the budget allocated to the police force, suggesting that the current funding levels are insufficient to maintain public safety effectively.
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