Dhaka, June 19 -- The Cabinet on Thursday approved in principle and gave final approval to four draft laws aimed at updating Bangladesh's legal framework on gambling, narcotics control, public examination offences and higher education.

The approval came at the 10th meeting of the Cabinet held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

The Cabinet gave approval in principle to the draft Gambling Prevention Act, 2026.

The proposed law seeks to replace and modernise the Public Gambling Act, 1867 in the wake of the rapid expansion of online and offline gambling facilitated by advanced technology.

The new law aims to maintain public order, reduce crime, prevent social, economic and psy...