DHAKA — A significant law enforcement operation targeting an unlicensed commercial venue in the capital’s Uttara district has resulted in the detention of 140 individuals, including 57 women. The coordinated raid was executed at the ‘Combe Restaurant and Bar’, situated near the ‘Moylar Mor’ in Sector 12, commencing late on the evening of Thursday, 23 April, and concluding at approximately 4:00 am on Friday, 24 April 2026.
Notably, despite the nature of the allegations and the observed activities, authorities reported that no official consignments of liquor or beer were seized during the search. This absence of physical evidence has raised questions regarding the potential disposal of stock prior to the entry of the police task force.
Premises Layout and Investigative Observations
The ‘Combe Restaurant and Bar’ spans the third, fourth, and fifth storeys of a commercial edifice on Sonargaon Janapath Road. Police investigations indicated that the venue had been functioning as a fully equipped bar for an extended period, operating under the deceptive facade of a conventional eatery.
Beyond the unauthorised distribution of alcohol, officers discovered that the establishment facilitated services of a more illicit nature. The fifth floor had been reconfigured into several private compartments, allegedly designed to facilitate intimate encounters between male patrons and female hostesses provided by the management.
The demographic of those detained reflected a broad cross-section of society, including:
Prominent figures from local ‘Kishore Gangs’ (organised juvenile groups).
Political activists and functionaries from various parties.
Members of the business community and other professionals.
During the intervention, several individuals in a state of visible intoxication reportedly engaged in aggressive verbal exchanges with officers. In an attempt to avoid arrest, numerous patrons sought refuge in the establishment’s lavatories, kitchen facilities, and balconies, or concealed themselves within furniture. All individuals were eventually extracted and taken into custody for formal processing.
Regulatory Breaches and Allegations of Corruption
Administrative intelligence suggests that the ‘Combe Restaurant and Bar’ lacked the legal permits required to serve alcohol or operate as a bar. Furthermore, it is alleged that the liquor provided was procured through clandestine channels, circumventing the statutory regulations of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.
Additional reports indicate that the venue regularly hosted nocturnal entertainment involving dancers and strobe lighting, attracting a youthful clientele that included students from local schools and universities. Allegations have also surfaced suggesting the establishment’s continued operation was enabled by the payment of monthly bribes, known locally as masowara, to certain corrupt officials within the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) and local law enforcement.
Official Response and Law Enforcement Leadership
The raid was spearheaded by Mirza Tareq Ahmed Beig, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Uttara Division. The operation involved a multi-agency task force comprising the Uttara West Police Station, the Detective Branch (DB), and undercover intelligence officers.
Key officials present during the operation included:
Md Ariful Islam, Senior Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Uttara Zone.
Md Khalid Mansur, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Uttara West Police Station.
Md Moniruzzaman, Inspector (Investigation).
Md Nazrul Islam, Inspector (Operations).
DC Mirza Tareq Ahmed Beig addressed journalists at the scene, clarifying the legal grounds for the mass detention:
“This operation is a component of our intensified crackdown on narcotics and juvenile delinquency. We have detained 140 persons at the Combe Restaurant and Bar. None of these individuals held a personal consumption licence, and of greater significance, the premises itself possessed no authorisation to operate as a bar.”
When asked about the perceived regulatory failure of the DNC in monitoring the venue, DC Beig declined to elaborate but emphasized the police’s resolve to enforce the law. He issued a clear ultimatum to similar establishments:
“We will continue to conduct systematic raids across other locations. The message is simple: these actions will persist. The absolute rule of law remains my final mandate in all police proceedings.”
The 140 detainees are currently being processed under the Narcotics Control Act. Police authorities have appealed for continued public assistance to identify other illicit venues operating within residential zones.