Criminal Law
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Online Harassment, Blackmail and Non-Consensual Content: Legal Remedies and the Cyber Protection Act 2026 Explained
The Cyber Protection Act, 2026 specifically criminalises digital blackmail, sexual harassment, revenge pornography, child sexual abuse material, sextortion, obscene content, and threats to publish or distribute such material. The offence can apply to genuine, altered, edited, or artificial intelligence-generated images, audio, or video, meaning that a perpetrator cannot avoid liability merely because the content is…
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What Should a Non-Resident Bangladeshi Do If Named as an Accused in a Criminal Case?
A non-resident Bangladeshi who learns that he or she has been named in a criminal case should verify the case immediately rather than relying on messages from relatives, social media or an opposing party. The person should obtain the FIR or complaint, identify the court and current orders, determine whether any warrant or proclamation exists…
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Cognizable and Non-Cognizable Offences: Police Powers and Court Procedure
For a cognizable offence, police may ordinarily arrest without warrant where the requirements of the Code are satisfied and may investigate without first obtaining a Magistrate’s order. For a non-cognizable offence, police generally cannot arrest without warrant merely on the basis of that offence and cannot investigate without an order from a competent Magistrate. Statutory…
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Bailable and Non-Bailable Offences: What Does the Classification Really Mean?
A bailable offence is one classified as bailable in Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure or made bailable by another law. Every other offence is non-bailable for the purpose of the Code. The classification answers whether bail is ordinarily available as a legal entitlement or depends on judicial discretion. It does not measure…
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Bail in Bangladesh: Regular, Interim and Anticipatory Bail Explained
Bail is the conditional release of an accused person from custody or protection from arrest while the criminal case continues. The legal test depends on whether the offence is bailable or non-bailable, the procedural stage, the seriousness of the allegation and the risk that the accused will abscond, interfere with evidence or obstruct justice. Anticipatory…
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Police Remand under Section 167: Powers, Limits and Safeguards
Police cannot keep an arrested person in custody indefinitely for investigation. If the investigation cannot be completed within the constitutional twenty-four-hour period, the accused must be produced before a competent Magistrate, and any further custody must be judicially authorised under section 167. Under the current amended Code, police custody may not exceed fifteen days in…
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Your Rights during Arrest and Police Custody in Bangladesh
An arrested person has the right to know why the arrest was made, consult a lawyer, have the arrest documented, have a relative or nominated person informed in the circumstances required by law and be produced before a Magistrate within the constitutional period. Police custody does not suspend the Constitution. Torture, coercion, secret detention and…
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Arrest without Warrant in Bangladesh after the 2026 Criminal Procedure Amendments
Police do not have an unlimited power to arrest merely because someone has been accused of a cognizable offence. The amended section 54 sets different requirements according to the seriousness of the alleged offence and, for many offences punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years, requires a separate assessment of why arrest is necessary.…
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What Can You Do If Police Refuse to Record an FIR?
When information discloses a cognizable offence, section 154 requires the police to record it through the statutory process. If the police refuse, the complainant should create a clear written record of the attempted complaint and may approach the competent Judicial Magistrate. Bangladesh’s procedure should not be confused with Indian statutory provisions commonly discussed online. The…
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General Diary and FIR: What Is the Legal Difference?
A General Diary entry records information received and activities occurring at a police station. An FIR is the formal recording under section 154 of information relating to a cognizable offence. A GD can be important evidence that an event was reported at a particular time, but it is not automatically a criminal case. When disclosed…