Bangladesh's dormant ‘Guest Control Order’ returns to spotlight after lawmaker's call

A little-known government order issued more than four decades ago to curb food waste at social gatherings has resurfaced in Bangladesh's public discourse after a lawmaker urged the government to revive its enforcement.

During the national budget discussion in parliament on June 22, BNP lawmaker Shahadat Hossain Selim called for the reintroduction of the Guest Control Order, 1984, arguing that extravagant wedding receptions and pre-wedding ceremonies such as gaye holud have become increasingly wasteful. 

His remarks have renewed interest in a law that remains legally in force but has long fallen into disuse, according to a report by Prothom Alo.

The Guest Control Order, 1984 was issued by the Ministry of Food on July 3, 1984, under Section 3(1) of the Control of Essential Commodities Act, 1956. 

The order was introduced at a time when Bangladesh faced concerns over food availability and sought to reduce unnecessary consumption of staple foods at large social and family events.

Under the order, organisers of weddings, birthdays, aqiqah ceremonies and other social, religious or family functions were prohibited from serving rice- or wheat-based meals to more than 100 guests, excluding members of the host family.

If organisers wished to invite more than 100 guests, they were required to obtain prior approval from the relevant deputy commissioner or upazila nirbahi officer through a prescribed application form. 

They also had to pay a government fee of Tk 25 per additional guest through a treasury challan. When the order was first introduced, the fee was Tk 10 per extra guest.

The order also granted legal authority to food inspectors, gazetted police officers and officials authorised by the district administration to enter venues and inspect whether the rules were being followed.

Violations of the order constituted an offence under the Control of Essential Commodities Act, 1956. Organisers, as well as owners of community centres or convention halls hosting events that breached the rules, could face fines and, in some cases, imprisonment.

In 2003, the government amended the order to exempt purely religious gatherings, including milad mahfil, iftar parties, kulkhani, chehlam, urs and shraddha, from guest limits and additional fees.

Although the order has never been formally repealed, it is now widely regarded as dormant. 

Large weddings and social events involving hundreds or even thousands of guests are routinely held across the country without organisers seeking official permission or paying the prescribed fees.