Bangladesh Laws Library (বাংলাদেশ কোড)

The supreme charter of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Establishes the supremacy of the constitution, declares unconstitutional any inconsistent statute under Article 7, guarantees enforceable fundamental human rights under Part III, and empowers the High Court Division with writ jurisdiction under Article 102.

The primary statute governing general parliamentary elections in Bangladesh under Article 119 of the Constitution. Regulates Returning Officer appointments, nomination requirements, mandatory candidate disclosures, election expenditures, corrupt electoral practices, and election tribunal dispute procedures.

Statute establishing the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh for the promotion, protection, and inquiry into violations of fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution and international covenants.

Statutory framework guaranteeing government-funded legal representation and advice to insolvent, indigent, and disadvantaged citizens to give effect to the constitutional right to equality before the law under Article 27 and protection of law under Article 31.

The primary substantive criminal law statute of Bangladesh. Codifies general criminal liability, statutory offenses against the human body, property, state security, and public tranquility.

The primary procedural code governing criminal justice in Bangladesh. Regulates police investigation machinery, FIR registration, arrest safeguards, bail conditions, trials before Magistrates and Sessions Courts, and appellate remedies.

Governs the admissibility, relevancy, and weight of evidence in civil and criminal proceedings. Modernized by the 2022 amendment to recognize digital records, forensic electronic signatures, and biometric data.

Specialized penal enactment establishing dedicated Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunals for the expeditious trial of sexual violence, trafficking, abduction, acid violence, and dowry-related deaths.

Statutory framework establishing the independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC/দুদক) of Bangladesh. Empowers the commission to investigate bribery, abuse of official power, money laundering predicates, and illicit wealth accumulation by public servants and citizens.

Statute enacted to provide special measures for preventing anti-state activities, hoarding, black-marketing, smuggling, currency counterfeiting, food adulteration, and maintaining essential supplies.

Comprehensive penal framework for preventing drug abuse, illicit trafficking, manufacture, and distribution of narcotics and psychotropic substances (including Yaba, Ice, and synthetic opioids) in Bangladesh.

Comprehensive juvenile justice and child protection legislation conforming with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Defines every person under 18 years as a child, establishes dedicated Children Courts in every district, prohibits joint trials of children with adults, and mandates diversion, probation, and child-friendly procedures.

Comprehensive criminal statute dedicated to preventing and suppressing domestic and cross-border human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, bonded labor, and illicit removal of human organs. Establishes dedicated Anti-Human Trafficking Offense Tribunals and victim protection funds.

Specialized national security and penal statute enacted to prevent terrorism, unlawful insurgent activities, extortion for ideological violence, and illicit financing of terrorist entities. Establishes dedicated Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunals.

The fundamental procedural statute regulating civil courts in Bangladesh. Governs institution of suits, jurisdiction of courts, temporary injunctions, execution of decrees, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and appeals.

Core civil statute defining equitable civil remedies, including recovery of immovable property, specific performance of land purchase contracts, declaratory judgments of title, and permanent injunctions.

Prescribes mandatory statutory periods of limitation for instituting civil suits, appeals, and revision applications in courts of law. Governs condonation of delay and extinguishment of title.

Regulates statutory court fees and judicial revenue stamps required on plaints, appeals, probate petitions, and applications presented before civil and criminal courts in Bangladesh.

Modern domestic and international commercial arbitration statute modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law. Governs arbitral agreements, conduct of proceedings, judicial non-intervention, and recognition of foreign arbitral awards in Bangladesh.

Governs Muslim marriage solemnization, registration, Talaq reconciliation procedures, restrictions on polygamy, inheritance rights of predeceased children’s offspring, and spousal maintenance in Bangladesh.

Updated 2023 statute consolidating exclusive Family Court jurisdiction over 5 core matters: dissolution of marriage, restitution of conjugal rights, dower (Denmohor), maintenance (Khorposh), and custody and guardianship of children across all religious communities.

Core statute governing appointment of guardians over the person and property of minors. Establishes the paramount principle of the "Welfare of the Child" in all custody adjudications.

Statutory framework introducing formal optional registration for Hindu marriages in Bangladesh, providing legal documentation, official marriage certificates, and protection of women’s rights.

Enables civil and inter-faith marriages between parties who do not profess the same traditional religious personal laws (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, or Parsi).

Updated criminal legislation prohibiting the demand, giving, taking, or abetting of dowry in marriage contracts, and prescribing jail sentences for false and malicious dowry accusations.

The fundamental substantive enactment regulating the inter vivos transfer of immovable property in Bangladesh. Governs sales of land, mortgages, leases, exchanges, gifts, and doctrine of lis pendens.

Regulates the compulsory and optional registration of land deeds, gift instruments (Heba), mortgages, leases, and powers of attorney in Sub-Registry offices throughout Bangladesh.

Landmark land reform statute abolishing the colonial Zamindari system, vesting agricultural land ownership in raiyats, regulating statutory pre-emption rights, alluvion/diluvion river erosion, and preparation of land records (Khatian and mutation).

Landmark reform criminalizing fraudulent land practices, counterfeit deed creation, deceptive mutation records, illegal land grabbing, and coercive dispossession of genuine title-holders. Empowers Executive Magistrates and Judicial Magistrates with summary redress powers.

Comprehensive statutory code consolidating the rights and conditions of service for workers in commercial and industrial establishments in Bangladesh. Regulates worker classifications, severance benefits, maternity leave (16 weeks), working hours (48h/week), double overtime, factory health and safety, trade unions, and Labour Court jurisdiction.

Specialized employment legislation governing industrial units situated within Bangladesh Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Regulates Workers Welfare Associations (WWA), EPZ dispute resolution, and dedicated EPZ Labour Tribunals.

The fundamental statute governing creation, performance, and enforcement of legal agreements and commercial contracts in Bangladesh. Governs offer, acceptance, lawful consideration, void contracts, indemnity, guarantees, and contractual breach remedies.

The primary corporate statute regulating the incorporation, operation, governance, share issuance, management, minority shareholder protection, and liquidation of private, public, and One Person Companies (OPC) registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) in Bangladesh.

Regulates commercial contracts for the purchase and sale of movable goods, express and implied warranties, passage of property title, risk of loss, Caveat Emptor doctrine, and unpaid seller’s statutory lien.

Defines the legal relationship between business partners who agree to share profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all. Governs firm registration with RJSC and consequences of non-registration.

Regulates negotiable financial instruments (promissory notes, bills of exchange, and bank cheques). Contains the pivotal Section 138 criminalizing cheque dishonour due to insufficient bank funds.

Primary banking regulatory statute empowering Bangladesh Bank to license commercial banks, enforce capital adequacy (BASEL III), restrict insider loans to directors, classify willful loan defaulters, and supersede commercial bank boards.

Regulatory enactment for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in Bangladesh, governing leasing, hire-purchase financing, merchant banking, merchant credit, and central bank prudential guidelines.

Specialized judicial enactment establishing dedicated Money Loan Courts (Artha Rin Adalat) with exclusive jurisdiction for the summary recovery of defaulted loans, mortgages, and commercial credits by banks and financial institutions.

Statutory framework to detect and penalize money laundering, illicit cross-border capital flight, Hawala/Hundi remittance channels, and predicate financial crimes. Establishes the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).

Regulates insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings for commercial debtors unable to discharge their financial obligations. Governs vesting of assets in Official Receivers and disqualification from public holding and corporate directorships.

Modern tax legislation replacing the 1984 Ordinance. Regulates direct income taxation across personal and corporate income heads, mandatory return filing proofs (PSR), universal self-assessments, advance tax payments, and transfer pricing in Bangladesh.

The primary indirect tax legislation of Bangladesh. Imposes Value Added Tax (standard 15% and reduced slabs) on goods and services, supplementary duties, input tax credits, Business Identification Number (BIN) mandates, and electronic fiscal devices (EFD).

Updated 2023 statute consolidating customs procedures, automated port clearances (National Single Window), import-export tariffs, bonded warehouse monitoring, and anti-smuggling seizures across land, sea, and air ports in Bangladesh.

Regulates the registration, exclusive trademark rights, protection of brand logos, and civil and criminal remedies against counterfeiters and passing-off in Bangladesh through the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT).

Updated 2023 copyright statute modernizing protections for authors, software engineers, musicians, and artists. Extends statutory copyright over computer programs, digital databases, online streaming, and provides criminal penalties for piracy.

Updated patent statute compliant with the WTO-TRIPS framework. Grants 20-year patent protection for novel technological inventions with industrial applicability, while preserving compulsory licensing provisions for essential medicines.

Specialized IP statute safeguarding unique geographical heritage goods of Bangladesh (such as Jamdani Sari, Padma Hilsa, Khirsapat Mango, Bagda Chingri, Tangail Sari) from commercial misappropriation.

The principal environmental statute of Bangladesh. Empowers the Department of Environment (DoE) to control industrial pollution, declare Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA), mandate Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECC) for factories, and penalize environmental polluters.

Specialized judicial framework establishing Environment Courts and an Environment Appellate Court in every division to try offenses under environmental laws and award financial compensation for ecological damage.

Regulates state forest management, declaration of Reserved and Protected Forests (including the Sundarbans mangrove), penalties for illegal logging, wildlife habitat destruction, and timber transit rules in Bangladesh.

Consolidates governance over integrated water resources management, state ownership of water bodies, right to safe drinking water, groundwater extraction regulation, and wetland protection.

Empowers citizens to request and obtain official information from government bodies, statutory corporations, and foreign-funded NGOs within strict statutory deadlines (20 working days). Establishes the Information Commission.

Constitutional statute established under Article 117 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, vesting exclusive jurisdiction in Administrative Tribunals over service terms, seniority, pensions, and disciplinary dismissals of persons in the service of the Republic.

The fundamental statute for statutory interpretation in Bangladesh. Standardizes definitions across all enactments, regulates the legal effect of legislative repeals, calculation of time periods, and exercise of statutory executive powers.

Foundational legislation regulating the import, export, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and preventing adulterated or counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs in Bangladesh.

Updated 2023 statute expanding DGDA regulatory oversight over pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics. Prescribes up to life imprisonment for manufacturing spurious life-saving medicines and mandates licensing for cosmetic products.

Public health legislation banning smoking in public places and transport, prohibiting tobacco advertisements, and mandating 50%+ graphic pictorial health warnings on all cigarette packets.

[Repealed Statute — Historical Archive] Replaced the 2018 Digital Security Act to penalize cyber attacks against Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), unauthorized digital intrusion, and computer hacking. Formally repealed via the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 and succeeded by the 2026 cybersecurity legislative regime.

Statutory framework establishing the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to regulate mobile operators, ISPs, submarine cables, spectrum allocation, and illegal call routing.

Foundational enactment legalizing digital electronic signatures, licensing Certifying Authorities (CCA), and establishing dedicated Cyber Tribunals in Bangladesh.

Mandates free and compulsory primary education for all children aged 6 to 10 across Bangladesh, imposing statutory duties on parents and guardians.

Regulatory enactment for establishing and operating private universities in Bangladesh under University Grants Commission (UGC) oversight, mandating permanent campuses, reserve funds, and 3% poor/freedom fighter scholarship quotas.

Regulates rural local government administration across Bangladesh's 4,500+ Union Parishads. Defines election rules, civic functions (birth/death registration, village sanitation, roads), taxation, and Village Courts.

Regulates municipal governance in urban Pourashavas throughout Bangladesh. Governs mayoral powers, town planning, building permits, waste management, water supply, and municipal holding tax.

Governs metropolitan administration across all City Corporations in Bangladesh (Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Mymensingh).

Foundational statute governing acquisition of citizenship by birth (Jus Soli), descent (Jus Sanguinis), registration, and naturalization in Bangladesh.

Historical presidential order defining citizenship for permanent residents of Bangladesh on 25 March 1971, and regulating Dual Citizenship Certificates for expatriate Bangladeshis living abroad.

Regulates requirements for valid passports and travel documents for persons entering Bangladesh across land, air, and sea immigration checkpoints.

Provides state executive powers to regulate the entry, stay, movement, visa overstay penalties, detention, and deportation of foreign nationals in Bangladesh.

Comprehensive legislation safeguarding the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers, licensing and regulating recruitment agencies (BAIRA / RL holders), preventing visa fraud, human trafficking, and exorbitant migration costs.