Rise and fall of Dhaka Boat Club: A tale of power, crime, and controversy

The Dhaka Boat Club Limited (DBCL) officially launched in February 2021.

Straddling a gleaming portion of the Turag River, it was envisioned as an elite recreational hub for the wealthy and influential.

According to its website, Dhaka Boat Club Limited (DBCL) is the premier recreational boating and social club in Dhaka, established in 1985.

The Dhaka Boat Club was never a club for "ordinary" men. Instead, its members are affluent businessmen and high-ranking officials.

The club represented the lifestyle of Bangladesh's upper-class citizens, offering a taste of exclusivity amidst a city lacking proper luxury cruise infrastructure despite being a country surrounded by water bodies.

But as the years stretched, the club gained more infamy than prestige.

Situated only around 30 minutes from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the club premises allegedly became a hotbed of criminal activity.

Allegations of land encroachment surfaced.

Despite the controversy, the club clung on to some semblance of luxury, through the backing of former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, who served as its president.

His position meant any legal obstacles were done away with in a blur.

But then came Pori Moni.

In a night that has gone down in the annals of history, Pori Moni became the straw that finally broke the camel's back.  

A crime that shook the nation

On 8 June 2021, Pori Moni made some damning allegations. 

She claimed to have been assaulted at the club by businessman Nasiruddin Mahmood, a former president of the club.

According to her account, she was tricked into visiting the club by her costume designer, Omi, who insisted on stopping by.

Upon arrival, the club was closed, but Omi arranged for the entrance to be reopened.

Inside, Pori Moni and her companions encountered Nasiruddin, who allegedly became violent when she refused his offer of alcohol.

The actress said Nasiruddin forcefully attempted to make her drink, touched her inappropriately, and snatched her phone to prevent her from calling for help.

She somehow managed to escape around 3am and later held a press conference, demanding justice.

The incident led to the arrest of Nasiruddin and Omi, along with three young women found in possession of contraband yaba tablets, foreign liquor, and beer at a separate location in Uttara.

Nasiruddin also allegedly used underage girls in the business, according to the DB joint commissioner who made a statement on the issue at the time.

Authorities also hinted at uncovering a larger illicit liquor and sex trade network tied to the club, raising further concerns about the extent of criminal activities within its premises.

However, Nasiruddin later filed a complaint with a Dhaka court, accusing Pori Moni and her associates of assault and attempted murder. 

Following the assault allegations, the Dhaka Boat Club became the subject of heated parliamentary debates.

Lawmakers questioned how such a club could operate on encroached land and whether a high-ranking public official like the IGP could legally serve as its president.

No government response was provided to clarify the matter, further fuelling suspicions of deep-rooted connections protecting the club.

Beyond the assault case, allegations of illegal land acquisitions also came to light.

In 2014, the club reportedly purchased 27 bighas of land from Eastern University, but its total land area later expanded to nearly 60 bighas.

Local leaseholders, including former Savar Birulia Union Parishad chairman Saidur Rahman Sujan, claimed that their khas (government) land had been forcibly taken over by the club.

Attempts to reclaim the land had been futile, as influential figures allegedly threatened those who resisted.

In a media interview, Saidur Rahman Sujan said, "The Boat Club has encroached on 77 decimals of government land leased in my name. A club member threatened me, saying the land would be used by the club and that I should drop the matter."

However, allegations soon surfaced that the club had been illegally built on encroached land along the Turag River.

The National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) raised concerns that the club's construction violated regulations prohibiting development within 200 yards of the river boundary.

The fall: Orders for eviction

With increasing pressure from environmental organisations and regulatory bodies, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) issued a notice on 28 January 2025 ordering the Dhaka Boat Club to vacate 10.73 acres of illegally occupied land.

The letter, addressed to the club's president, stated that the board had acquired the land for flood control as part of the Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project.

The Boat Club had unlawfully included this land within its boundary wall, constituting trespassing.

Failure to comply would lead to legal action and possible eviction, marking the final downfall of the once-prestigious club.

The NRCC also announced plans to reassess the club's land occupation and issue further recommendations for action.

The rise and fall of Dhaka Boat Club paint a grim picture of unchecked privilege and impunity in Bangladesh's elite circles.

While its inception promised a luxury retreat by the river, its legacy now remains entangled with crime, corruption, and land-grabbing allegations.

Whether it will be fully evicted or continue to operate under new leadership remains uncertain.

However, one thing is clear: Dhaka Boat Club is no longer a symbol of prestige but a cautionary tale of power gone unchecked.