How to Recover Money Owed in Bangladesh: Every Legal Route Compared
Lent money to a friend, a relative or a business partner and it has not come back? Here is each legal route, what it needs, and which one fits your facts.
- Start with proof: the stamp-paper note, bank transfers, messages or a cheque.
- A legal notice comes first; many debts are paid at that stage.
- A plain unpaid loan is a civil debt. Criminal cases fit only where there was deceit or entrustment.
- Time limits are short: for an ordinary loan, about three years, and the clock can start on the day the money was lent.
In this guide: The routes compared · Evidence that wins money cases · Time limits and cost · After you win: getting paid
The short answer
The law gives you several ways to get your money back. Which one fits depends on what proof you hold and how the debt arose. A cheque that bounced opens the fast section 138 route. A signed note or stamp-paper agreement supports a money suit in the civil court. A loan taken by deceit or money entrusted and misused may also be a crime under sections 420 or 406.
Whatever the route, send a clear legal notice first, keep every receipt, and watch the limitation period.
The routes compared
| Route | Fits when | What you need | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal notice and negotiation | Every case, as the first step | Facts, amount, deadline | Keep proof of sending |
| Mediation | Both sides want a deal; family or business ties | A mediator or the legal aid office | Put any settlement in writing |
| Money suit (civil court) | Written proof of the loan or contract | Documents, court fee on the claim amount | Limitation period; time to decree and execution |
| Cheque case (s.138) | You hold a bounced cheque | Cheque, bank memo, notice within 30 days | Strict deadlines |
| Criminal case (s.420 / s.406) | Deceit from the start, or entrusted money misused | Evidence of the deceit or entrustment | Fails for a plain debt and can backfire |
| Village Court | Small sums in a union area | Application to the Union Parishad | Up to Tk 3 lakh (Village Courts Act 2006, amended 2024) |
Evidence that wins money cases
- A signed acknowledgement, stamp-paper agreement or promissory note.
- Bank transfers, bKash or Nagad records showing the money left your account.
- Messages or recordings where the debtor admits the debt or promises to pay.
- Witnesses who saw the money handed over.
- A cheque given for the debt, with the bank’s dishonour memo.
Time limits and cost
Under the Limitation Act 1908, a suit for money lent must generally be filed within three years, and for an ordinary loan the clock can start on the day the money was lent, not the day you asked for it back. A written acknowledgement of the debt before time runs out starts a fresh period. A cheque case has its own strict 30-day steps.
A money suit needs a court fee that rises with the amount claimed under the Court Fees Act; your lawyer calculates it before filing. Notices, cheque complaints and mediation cost far less.
After you win: getting paid
A decree is only paper until it is executed. If the debtor still does not pay, file an execution case to attach and sell property, attach bank accounts or salary, or, in a proper case, seek civil detention. Find out early what the debtor owns, because that decides whether suing is worth it.
Collect the proof
Notes, transfers, messages, witnesses and any cheque.
Send a legal notice
Demand the exact amount by a clear date.
Choose the route
Cheque case, money suit, mediation or, only where it fits, a criminal case.
Plan the execution
Identify the debtor's property and accounts before you win.
Common questions
How do I recover money I lent in Bangladesh?
Send a legal notice first. If it is not paid, file a money suit in the civil court with your proof, or a section 138 case if you hold a bounced cheque. Mediation can settle it faster.
I lent money on stamp paper. Can I get it back?
Yes. A signed stamp-paper agreement is good evidence. Send a notice, then file a money suit within the limitation period.
Can I file a criminal case for unpaid money?
Only where there was deceit from the start (s.420) or money was entrusted and misused (s.406). For a plain unpaid loan, a criminal case usually fails.
How long do I have to recover a loan?
Generally three years under the Limitation Act. For an ordinary loan the period can run from the day the money was lent, so act early. A written acknowledgement of the debt restarts the clock.
I lent money without any document. What now?
Bank or mobile-banking records, messages and witnesses can still prove the loan. Collect them before sending a notice.
How much does a money suit cost?
The court fee rises with the amount claimed under the Court Fees Act, plus the lawyer's fee. A notice or cheque complaint costs much less.
Can the court make the debtor pay in instalments?
Yes. Courts often allow or approve instalments, especially in a settlement. Put the schedule and the default consequence in writing.
What if the debtor has no money?
A decree then has little value. Find out what property, accounts or income the debtor has before you spend on a case.
More in Courts, Cases & Money Claims
Cheque dishonour, legal notices and mediation before a case.
Cheque Dishonour Case (Section 138) Bangladesh 2026
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Arbitration and the Salishnama in Bangladesh
Free Legal Aid in Bangladesh: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Civil Suit in Bangladesh: Process, Court Fee and Time
Legal Notice Structure for Money & Cheque Demands
Mandatory Pre-Case Mediation in Bangladesh 2026
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