It was around 1:45 pm yesterday (Wednesday). The building named ‘Taher Bhaban’ is located at 147/A/1 on the capital’s Green Road. A youth entered into the building and wanted to be informed about the location of the wine bar. Two security guards asked the youth “Do you want a parcel or drink here? The young man replied that his two friends would join and later would drink there. Then, one security guard said, “Go to the upper floor and wait there.” This correspondent observed the situation by standing beside them. 

The wine bar DPL (Domino's Pizza Limited) is situated on the second and third floor of the ‘Taher Bhaban’.

According to the sources, Salma Begum, owner of the building resides in the United States. The IBA hostel of the University of Dhaka is next to the ‘Taher Bhaban’. On the opposite of the IBA hostel, another private University of Asia Pacific is situated. This correspondent talked to the residents adjacent to the DPL bar. 

Wishing anonymity, several locals said the owner of the DPL bar is very influential. If anyone protests the unwanted behaviours of the drunk people, they can be harmed by the bar owner. Drunken people create unwanted chaos daily inside and outside of the DPL bar, they alleged.   

A student of the Law Department of Sonargaon University said many students of the university are regular customers of DPL bar.

The Department of Narcotics Control had given license to the DPL bar by the order of the higher court in 2016. Saki Nur Islam is the managing director of the bar. Md Ikbal is one of the directors of the DPL bar. The bar is open for 24 hours. Activities of the bar start every evening with music of various languages.

Contacted, Sonargaon University registrar S M Nurul Huda claimed his university has no connection with ‘Taher Bhaban’.  ‘Western Ideal Institute’ which is owned by a trustee of Sonargaon University is situated at ‘Taher Bhaban’. Sonargaon University has no connection with ‘Taher Bhaban’ and ‘Western Ideal Institute’.

DPL bar manager Firoz Ahmed said, “We started decoration works in 2016 by renting two floors of the building. We started the business here around 7-8 months ago. Sonargaon University has come here 7-8 months later. Only the building owner could tell why she rented the university at this building.”

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 7, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.