Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the High Court order that imposed a ban on gambling in the country’s 13 renowned clubs, including Dhaka Club and Uttara Club.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha issued the order following a writ petition filed by the authorities of Dhaka Club.

The SC also asked the Dhaka Club authorities to file a leave-to-appeal against the High Court order.

Advocate Ruhul Kuddus stood for Dhaka Club while Barrister Hasan Arif fought for the petitioners.

Advocate Ruhul Kuddus, said they have filed the leave-to-appeal following the court’s order and the court fixed 11 December for hearing the petition.

Earlier on 6 December, Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain stayed the HC order for one day following a petition filed by Dhaka Club seeking a stay order over the HC directives. It also sent the petition to the regular bench of the Appellate Division.

The High Court on 4 December, imposed a ban on gambling in the country’s 13 renowned clubs, including Dhaka Club and Uttara Club.

Following a writ petition, an HC bench comprising Justice Quamrul Islam Siddique and Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif asked 12 defendants, including the home secretary, IGP, DMP and CMP commissioners and deputy commissioners of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Narayanganj, to take steps to prevent the clubs from running such activities.

The 11 other clubs are Gulshan Club, Dhanmondi Club, Banani Club, Officers’ Club Dhaka, Ladies’ Club Dhaka, Cadet College Club, Chittagong Club, Chittagong Seniors’ Club, Narayanganj Club, Sylhet Club and Khulna Club.

The court also issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain as to why gambling like card, dice and house in exchange of money in the name of indoor games should not be declared illegal.

Supreme Court lawyers Samiul Haque and Rukanuddin M Faruque filed the writ with the High Court on November 30 challenging the legality of the clubs to arrange gambling without following the law.