Domestic Violence & Protection
If you or your children are not safe at home, the law gives you real, practical protection, and you do not have to leave everything behind to get it. We act quickly and in confidence, from an emergency protection order to a full case, and we handle it with the discretion it needs.
What this covers
Domestic violence is not only physical. The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 covers physical, psychological, sexual and economic abuse within a family or shared household, and it lets a court order the abuser to stop, to stay away, and even to leave, without forcing the person at risk out of their own home. Alongside it, serious offences can be prosecuted under the criminal law, and dowry demands are themselves an offence.
Protection, residence and compensation orders
Under the 2010 Act a court can make a protection order that stops the abuse and bars contact, a residence order that secures your right to stay in the home, and an order for compensation and costs. Urgent interim orders are available where there is immediate risk, so you are not left waiting for a full hearing.
When it is a criminal matter
Where there has been serious assault, dowry-related violence or other grave harm, the matter can be prosecuted under the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000 through the special tribunals. We advise on whether the civil protection route, the criminal route, or both together is right for your situation.
Dowry demands
Demanding or giving dowry is unlawful under the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018. Dowry pressure and violence run through many of these cases, and we deal with them directly rather than treating them as a private family matter.
What helps your case
- Any record of what has happened: dates, messages, photographs of injuries or damage
- Medical records or a hospital slip, if there was treatment
- Names of anyone who witnessed or knows about the abuse
- Details of any earlier complaint, GD or FIR
- Your National ID and, if relevant, the children’s documents
Where it is dealt with, and how long it takes
Applications under the 2010 Act are made to the court, which can grant interim protection quickly where there is urgency. A criminal case under the 2000 Act goes to the special tribunal. Timelines depend on the route and the level of risk, but the point of a protection order is speed: relief can come well before the case is finally decided.
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Make you safe first
Before anything else, we make sure you and your children are safe and talk through your options in confidence.
Seek urgent protection
Where there is risk, we apply for an interim protection or residence order so the abuse stops now, not months from now.
Build the case
We gather the records and evidence and decide, with you, between the civil route, a criminal complaint, or both together.
See it through
We represent you to a final order and help enforce it if it is breached.
Read the free guides first
Most of what clients ask at a first meeting is answered step by step in our free guides. Read the ones below first; book a consultation when you want the chamber to act.
Common questions
Will I have to leave my home?
No, and that is the point of a residence order. The law can secure your right to stay in the home and require the abuser to keep away, rather than forcing you out.
Do I have to file a criminal case to be protected?
No. The 2010 Act gives civil protection, residence and compensation orders on their own. A criminal case is a separate option for serious offences, and the two can run together, but your protection does not depend on prosecuting anyone.
Is this confidential?
Yes. What you tell us is protected, and we handle these matters with discretion. We will not take a step that could put you at greater risk without talking it through with you first.
How do I file a nari nirjaton case?
File a First Information Report at the police station, or a complaint petition directly to the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunal if the police refuse. Bring medical records, photos, messages and witness names. In immediate danger, call 999.
How much does it cost to file a nari nirjaton case?
The court fee for a complaint is small. The real cost is the lawyer’s fee and attending hearings, which depends on the case. Victims who cannot afford a lawyer can get free legal aid through the District Legal Aid Office.
What is the punishment for demanding dowry?
Under the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018, demanding dowry is punishable with 1 to 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Tk 50,000. Violence linked to dowry is tried more severely under the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000.
What happens if someone files a false nari nirjaton case?
Filing a false case under the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain is itself an offence under section 17, punishable with up to 7 years’ imprisonment. The accused can seek bail, challenge the case, and later complain against the false complainant.
Speak with a lawyer, in confidence
If you are in immediate danger, get to safety first. When you are safe, we can act quickly. A written assessment costs nothing.