Licence to drink!
The whole exercise of issuing 'Liquor Permit', by the Excise Department, is structured on lies, fraud and deceit! It seems that we officially issue the licences to prospective social and 'addicted' drinkers; largely Muslims, usually of the so-called 'high society' who indulge in this illegal vice to drink intoxicating liquor which is disallowed and prohibited in Islam! In a lighter vein, these licences can be compared to the fictitious James Bond the 007's, "licence to kill" issued by the MI5, of course it was un-written!
The application form for the issue of this so-called 'Liquor Permit', known as PR.1 issued by the Department of Excise, needs a 'medical certificate' from a registered medical doctor which as stated in the PR.1 form: "it should state the name and nature of the 'ailment' from which the patient might be suffering and the recommendation should be absolute minimum quantity of foreign (not local ones!) liquor necessary for the recovery of the patient!" It further states: "If considered necessary, in any case the Granting Authority (Excise Department) may consult the Civil Surgeon before issuing the permit."!
Here we have a registered doctor, the government's Excise Department, as well as the Civil Surgeon, getting involved in medical fraud, and false certification! Is this not a criminal activity practiced by a government official ? How would lawyers call it, I wonder! Will some medically aware person, or experts in your 'Health Page or Column' throw some light on the matter, as I am not aware of any medical reason for which alcohol needs to be prescribed! It may refer to 'depression' or 'acute morbidity', which however are psychological rather than medical conditions.
If we still want to issue 'Liquor Permits' on the basis of "see no evil, hear no evil and do no evil", then the government should impose a very high tax for the permit, say Tk.10,000 per annum for Muslims, and half the amount for non-Muslims who want to avail of this health cure!
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