Govt served legal notice seeking online gambling ban

A rights organisation issued a legal notice to the government today, urging immediate action to block all websites, applications, gateways, and links associated with online gambling.

The Law and Life Foundation Trust sent the legal notice through its counsel, Barrister Mohammad Humaun Kabir Pallob, addressing it to the secretaries of various government ministries, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh Bank; and the Inspector General of Police.

In the notice, the rights body demanded legal action against celebrities, mobile financial service providers, and scheduled banks allegedly involved in the promotion and spread of online gambling.

It blamed the inaction of relevant authorities for the rise of online gambling, terming it as an "epidemic."

It also alleged that foreign companies, in collusion with local syndicates, are laundering thousands of crores of takas through these gambling platforms.

"Renowned celebrities and showbiz models and stars of Bangladesh are promoting gambling advertisements in exchange for money on their own Facebook pages," the notice added.

The rights body further urged authorities to ensure that internet companies cannot promote any sort of online gambling advertising and that no online gambling sites, applications, or links can be accessed on social media.

It also proposed the formation of a special monitoring cell to prevent online gambling and recommended stern punitive action against those involved.

The organisation warned that if no action is taken immediately, it will file a writ petition before the High Court in public interest.