Bangladesh’s Parliament earlier in the month passed a criminal procedure amendment bill requiring authorities to inform a person’s family within 12 hours of an arrest.
The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also requires arresting officers to carry and display visible identification cards. It says arrestees must be allowed to consult a lawyer or meet relatives, preferably within 12 hours.
The measure requires arrest details to be entered in the official register, including the reason for arrest, the complainant’s information, the relative or friend notified, and the officer with custody of the arrestee.
All arrests must also be recorded immediately in the local police station’s general diary.
Each arrest must be attested by at least one witness, either a family member or a respected local resident.