Legal glossary: English and Bangla terms

AC Land (Assistant Commissioner, Land) (সহকারী কমিশনার (ভূমি)): The upazila or circle level land officer who decides mutation (namjari) applications, supervises Union Land Offices and hears certain land record matters.

Acquisition (land) (অধিগ্রহণ): Compulsory taking of land by the government for public purposes with compensation, now under the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act 2017.

Acquittal (খালাস): A finding at the end of a criminal trial that the accused is not guilty, which ends the case against them subject to any appeal.

Adverse possession (বিরুদ্ধ দখল): Acquiring title by openly and continuously possessing land against the true owner for the statutory period; it is difficult to prove and courts examine it strictly.

Affidavit (হলফনামা): A written statement of facts sworn or affirmed before a notary public, magistrate or other authorised officer, used as evidence or to support an application.

Amnama (power of attorney) (আমমোক্তারনামা): A document authorising another person to act for the principal, for example to sell or manage land; powers relating to immovable property generally must be registered under the Power of Attorney Act 2012.

Anticipatory bail (আগাম জামিন): Bail sought before arrest, usually from the High Court Division or the Sessions Judge under section 498 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, often for a limited period with a direction to surrender.

Appeal (আপিল): An application to a higher court to set aside or change a judgment, decree or order of a lower court, filed within the time limit set by law.

Appellate Division (আপিল বিভাগ): The higher division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, which hears appeals and leave petitions from the High Court Division; its decisions bind all courts.

Arbitration (সালিশ): Resolution of a dispute by an arbitrator chosen under an agreement, whose award is binding and enforceable under the Arbitration Act 2001.

Arbitration Council (family) (সালিশি পরিষদ): A body formed by the Chairman under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, with representatives of both spouses, to attempt reconciliation after talaq notice or to consider permission for another marriage.

Arrest memo (গ্রেপ্তারি স্মারক): A written record of an arrest, prepared at the time of arrest, which the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2026 makes compulsory and which should be attested by a family member or local witness.

Artha Rin Adalat (অর্থঋণ আদালত): The special court where banks and financial institutions file suits to recover loans under the Artha Rin Adalat Ain 2003.

Assistant Judge’s Court (সহকারী জজ আদালত): The entry level civil court in a district, which hears civil suits within its pecuniary limit.

Bail (জামিন): Release of an accused person from custody, on a bond and often with sureties, on condition that they attend court on each date.

Bail bond (জামিননামা): The written undertaking signed by the accused and sureties when bail is granted, promising attendance in court.

Bailable offence (জামিনযোগ্য অপরাধ): An offence listed as bailable in the Code of Criminal Procedure, for which the accused is entitled to bail as of right.

Bainanama (contract for sale) (বায়নানামা): An agreement to sell land or a flat in future on stated terms; it must be in writing and presented for registration within 30 days of signing.

Bangladesh Bar Council (বাংলাদেশ বার কাউন্সিল): The statutory body that enrols advocates, sets professional conduct rules and hears complaints of professional misconduct.

Bontonnama (partition deed) (বণ্টননামা): A deed by which co-owners, often heirs, divide jointly owned land into separate shares; it should be registered to be effective as to title.

BS khatian (বিএস খতিয়ান): The record of rights prepared in the Bangladesh Survey, the most recent survey in many areas; in Dhaka and other cities a city survey record may apply.

Cause list (কার্যতালিকা (কজলিস্ট)): The daily list published by a court showing which cases will be heard, in what order and before which bench.

Certified copy (সার্টিফাইড কপি (নকল)): An official copy of a court order, judgment, deed or land record certified by the issuing office as a true copy, needed for appeals and many applications.

Charge framing (অভিযোগ গঠন): The stage at which the trial court formally frames the charges an accused will face, or discharges the accused if there is no ground to proceed.

Charge sheet (অভিযোগপত্র): The police report under section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure recommending that named accused be tried for stated offences.

Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court (চিফ জুডিসিয়াল ম্যাজিস্ট্রেট আদালত): The principal magistracy court in a district outside metropolitan areas, dealing with criminal cases at the magistrate level.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court (CMM Court) (চিফ মেট্রোপলিটন ম্যাজিস্ট্রেট আদালত): The principal magistracy court in a metropolitan area such as Dhaka, where police cases and complaint cases are first dealt with.

Cognizable offence (আমলযোগ্য অপরাধ): An offence for which police may arrest without a warrant and start investigation on an FIR.

Compoundable offence (আপসযোগ্য অপরাধ): An offence that the law allows the victim to settle with the accused, with or without the court’s permission, under section 345 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Court fee (কোর্ট ফি): The government fee paid in stamps on plaints, petitions and applications under the Court-fees Act 1870; in many suits it is calculated on the value of the claim.

CR case (complaint case) (সিআর মামলা (নালিশি মামলা)): A criminal case started by a complaint made directly to a Magistrate under section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure rather than through the police.

CS khatian (সিএস খতিয়ান): The record of rights from the Cadastral Survey, the first comprehensive land survey, carried out from the late nineteenth century; often the starting point of a title search.

Cyber Tribunal (সাইবার ট্রাইব্যুনাল): The tribunal that tries offences under the cyber security law, currently the Cyber Security Act 2026 as amended.

Dag number (plot number) (দাগ নম্বর): The number given to a plot of land on the mouza map in a survey; the same land may have different dag numbers in different surveys.

DCR (Duplicate Carbon Receipt) (ডিসিআর): The receipt issued by the land office when mutation fees are paid, which together with the mutation khatian is proof that namjari has been completed.

Declaration suit (ঘোষণামূলক মামলা): A civil suit asking the court to declare a legal right or status, such as title to land, often combined with other relief.

Decree (ডিক্রি): The formal expression of a civil court’s final decision on the rights of the parties in a suit, which can be enforced by execution.

Deferred dower (বাকি মোহর (মুওয়াজ্জল)): The part of the dower payable when the marriage ends by divorce or death, unless an earlier date is agreed.

Denmohor (dower) (দেনমোহর): The money or property a Muslim husband must give his wife as a condition of marriage, recorded in the kabinnama and enforceable in the Family Court.

Discharge (অব্যাহতি): An order releasing an accused before trial because the materials do not disclose sufficient ground to proceed.

District Judge’s Court (জেলা জজ আদালত): The principal civil court of a district, which hears civil appeals, succession and probate matters and supervises subordinate civil courts.

District Legal Aid Office (জেলা লিগ্যাল এইড অফিস): The office in each district that provides government legal aid and conducts pre-case mediation under the Legal Aid Services Act 2000 as amended.

Dolil (deed) (দলিল): A written legal instrument, most often a registered deed transferring land, such as a sale, gift or partition deed.

Domestic violence protection order (সুরক্ষা আদেশ): An order under the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 restraining a person from committing further violence against a family member.

Dowry (যৌতুক): Money or property demanded as a condition of marriage; demanding or giving dowry is an offence under the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018.

E-mutation (e-namjari) (ই-নামজারি): The online system for applying for, paying fees for and tracking land mutation in Bangladesh.

E-porcha (ই-পর্চা): The online service for viewing and ordering certified copies of khatian and mouza maps from the land record database.

Ejahar (FIR) (এজাহার): The first information report of a cognizable offence recorded by the police under section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which starts a police case.

Encumbrance (দায় / দায়বদ্ধতা): Any charge or claim over property, such as a mortgage, lien, lease or pending court order, that affects a buyer’s rights.

Ex parte (একতরফা): A hearing or decision made in the absence of one party, usually because that party did not appear after notice.

Execution case (জারি মামলা): The proceeding filed after a decree to enforce it, for example by recovering money, delivering possession or attaching property.

Family Court (পারিবারিক আদালত): The court that hears divorce, restitution of conjugal rights, dower, maintenance, and guardianship and custody cases under the Family Courts Act 2023.

Faraiz (ফারায়েজ): The Islamic law rules fixing the shares of heirs in a deceased Muslim’s estate.

Final report (চূড়ান্ত প্রতিবেদন): A police report under section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure stating that no case should proceed, for example because the allegation was not proved; the informant may object by naraji petition.

GD (General Diary) (সাধারণ ডায়েরি (জিডি)): An entry recorded in the police station’s diary about information, threats, lost items or non-cognizable matters, which can be filed without a lawyer.

GR case (জিআর মামলা): The court’s term for a police case that started with an FIR, as distinct from a complaint (CR) case.

Guardian (অভিভাবক): The person legally responsible for a minor’s person or property; under Muslim law the father is the natural guardian, and the court can appoint guardians under the Guardians and Wards Act 1890.

Hazira (attendance) (হাজিরা): An accused person’s attendance in court on a fixed date, or the petition recording it; missing hazira can lead to cancellation of bail and a warrant.

Heba (gift) (হেবা): A Muslim gift of property made without payment, which requires declaration, acceptance and delivery of possession; gifts of land are made by registered deed.

High Court Division (হাইকোর্ট বিভাগ): The division of the Supreme Court that hears writ petitions, criminal and civil appeals and revisions, quashing applications and certain original matters.

Hizanat (custody) (হিযানত): The right to physical custody and care of a child; under traditional Hanafi rules it lies with the mother for young children, subject to the child’s welfare.

Iddat (ইদ্দত): The waiting period a Muslim woman observes after divorce or her husband’s death before she may remarry, during which the husband is liable for maintenance after divorce.

Injunction (নিষেধাজ্ঞা): A court order stopping a person from doing something (or requiring them to do something); temporary injunctions are granted under Order 39 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Investigating Officer (IO) (তদন্তকারী কর্মকর্তা): The police officer responsible for investigating a case and submitting the charge sheet or final report.

Joint District Judge’s Court (যুগ্ম জেলা জজ আদালত): A civil court of higher pecuniary jurisdiction in a district, which also sits as the Joint Sessions Judge in criminal matters, including cheque dishonour trials.

Judge Court (জজ কোর্ট): The common name for the district civil and sessions court complex, such as the Dhaka Judge Court, housing district level civil courts and sessions courts.

Judicial custody (jail custody) (জেল হাজত): Detention of an accused in prison by court order, as opposed to police custody.

Kabinnama (কাবিননামা): The registered Muslim marriage document recording the parties, witnesses, dower and any delegated right of divorce.

Kazi (Nikah Registrar) (কাজী (নিকাহ রেজিস্ট্রার)): The licensed registrar who registers Muslim marriages and divorces under the Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act 1974.

Khajna (land development tax) (খাজনা (ভূমি উন্নয়ন কর)): The annual tax on land, now governed by the Land Development Tax Act 2023 and payable online; up to date receipts are a basic ownership check.

Khas land (খাস জমি): Land owned by the government, which private persons cannot validly sell; buyers should check that land is not recorded as khas.

Khatian (খতিয়ান): The record of rights showing the owners, shares, dag numbers and area of land in a mouza, prepared in a survey or through mutation.

Khula (খুলা): Divorce at the wife’s instance by agreement with the husband, usually in return for giving up all or part of the dower.

Land Crimes Prevention and Remedy Act 2023 (ভূমি অপরাধ প্রতিরোধ ও প্রতিকার আইন ২০২৩): The law creating specific offences for land fraud, forged deeds, unlawful occupation and related acts, with its own procedure for complaints.

Land Survey Tribunal (ভূমি জরিপ ট্রাইব্যুনাল): The tribunal that hears disputes about errors in final survey records of rights under the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act 1950.

Leave petition (লিভ পিটিশন): An application to the Appellate Division asking permission to appeal against a High Court Division judgment.

Legal aid (আইনগত সহায়তা): Free legal advice, representation or mediation for eligible people under the Legal Aid Services Act 2000, available through district offices and the 16430 helpline.

Legal notice (লিগ্যাল নোটিশ): A formal written demand or warning sent, usually through a lawyer, before starting legal action, and compulsory before a cheque dishonour case.

Letters of administration (লেটার্স অব অ্যাডমিনিস্ট্রেশন): A court grant authorising a person to administer a deceased’s estate where there is no executor or no will, under the Succession Act 1925.

Limitation (তামাদি): The time limit for filing a suit, appeal or application under the Limitation Act 1908 or a special law; a late claim may be barred.

Maintenance (ভরণপোষণ / খোরপোশ): Money for living costs that a husband must provide to his wife and a father to his children, claimable in the Family Court.

Mediation (মধ্যস্থতা): A process where a neutral mediator helps parties reach a voluntary settlement; it can be pre-case (legal aid), in court under the Code of Civil Procedure, or private.

Medico-legal certificate (মেডিকো-লিগ্যাল সার্টিফিকেট): A hospital certificate recording injuries, used as evidence in assault and similar cases.

Mouza (মৌজা): The smallest revenue unit of land administration, roughly a village area, under which khatian and maps are prepared.

Mouza map (মৌজা ম্যাপ / নকশা): The survey map of a mouza showing plots by dag number, used to identify the location and boundaries of land.

Mubarat (মুবারাত): Divorce by mutual agreement of husband and wife under Muslim law.

Mutation (namjari) (নামজারি): Recording a new owner’s name in the khatian after purchase, inheritance or other transfer, decided by the AC Land.

Naraji petition (নারাজি পিটিশন): An objection filed by the informant or complainant against a police final report or inquiry report, asking the Magistrate not to accept it.

Nominee (নমিনি): A person named by an account or policy holder to receive funds on death; the nominee generally holds them for the legal heirs rather than as owner.

Non-bailable offence (জামিন অযোগ্য অপরাধ): An offence for which bail is not a right and is at the court’s discretion under section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Non-bailable warrant (জামিন অযোগ্য ওয়ারেন্ট): A warrant of arrest on which the police cannot release the person on bail themselves; the person must be produced before the court.

Notary public (নোটারি পাবলিক): A lawyer appointed under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 to attest documents, administer oaths and certify copies.

Order sheet (আদেশনামা): The record kept in a court file of each order made on each date in a case.

Parents’ maintenance (পিতা-মাতার ভরণপোষণ): The duty of children to maintain their parents under the Parents Maintenance Act 2013, now among the disputes sent to pre-case mediation in rollout districts.

Partition suit (বাটোয়ারা মামলা): A civil suit asking the court to divide jointly owned property among co-sharers by metes and bounds.

Plaint (আরজি): The written statement of claim that starts a civil suit, setting out the facts, cause of action, valuation and relief sought under Order 7 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Porcha (পর্চা): A copy of the khatian; the term also refers to the draft record handed to landowners during a survey.

Pre-emption (অগ্রক্রয়): A co-sharer’s statutory right to buy back a share sold to an outsider, under section 96 of the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act 1950 or the Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act 1949.

Probate (প্রোবেট): A copy of a will certified by the court with a grant of administration to the executor, proving the will under the Succession Act 1925.

Prompt dower (নগদ মোহর (মুয়াজ্জল)): The part of the dower payable on the wife’s demand at any time during the marriage.

Quashing (section 561A) (৫৬১এ ধারায় মামলা বাতিল): The High Court Division’s inherent power under section 561A of the Code of Criminal Procedure to quash proceedings to prevent abuse of process or secure the ends of justice.

RAJUK approval (রাজউক অনুমোদন): Building plan and land use approval from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha for construction in the Dhaka area, which flat buyers should check.

Registration fee (রেজিস্ট্রেশন ফি): The government fee paid at the sub-registry office to register a deed, alongside stamp duty and other taxes set by current law.

Remand (রিমান্ড): An order under section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure allowing police to keep an accused in custody for interrogation; total police custody cannot exceed 15 days.

Rent control (বাড়ি ভাড়া নিয়ন্ত্রণ): Rules on house rent, advance and eviction under the House Rent Control Act 1991, enforced through the House Rent Controller.

Restitution of conjugal rights (দাম্পত্য অধিকার পুনরুদ্ধার): A Family Court case asking the court to direct a spouse who has left without lawful cause to resume married life.

Revision (রিভিশন): An application to a superior court to examine whether a lower court acted illegally or with material irregularity in a case where no appeal lies.

RS khatian (আরএস খতিয়ান): The record of rights from the Revisional Survey, which updated the SA records in many districts.

Rule nisi (রুল নিশি): An order of the High Court Division calling on the respondent to show cause why the relief sought in a writ or other petition should not be granted.

SA khatian (এসএ খতিয়ান): The record of rights prepared under the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act 1950 in the survey of the 1950s and 1960s.

Saf kabala (sale deed) (সাফ কবলা): A registered deed of outright sale transferring full ownership of land or a flat to the buyer.

Section 144 order (১৪৪ ধারা): An order by an Executive Magistrate under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to prevent a breach of the peace, often used in land possession disputes.

Section 145 proceeding (১৪৫ ধারার মামলা): A magistrate’s proceeding under section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to deal with a land possession dispute likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Section 164 statement (১৬৪ ধারার জবানবন্দি): A confessional or witness statement recorded by a Magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Sessions Court (দায়রা আদালত): The criminal trial court for serious offences in a district or metropolitan area, presided over by a Sessions Judge, Additional or Joint Sessions Judge.

Shown arrest (শ্যোন অ্যারেস্ট): Showing a person already in custody as arrested in another case; section 167A of the Code of Criminal Procedure as amended requires the Magistrate to check the grounds and hear the accused.

Specific performance (চুক্তি প্রবলের মামলা): A civil suit asking the court to compel a party to carry out a contract, such as completing a sale under a registered bainanama.

Stamp duty (স্ট্যাম্প শুল্ক): Tax paid on documents such as deeds, agreements and powers of attorney under the Stamp Act 1899 at rates set by current law.

Status quo (স্থিতাবস্থা): A court order directing the parties to keep things, such as possession of land, as they are until further order.

Stay order (স্থগিতাদেশ): A court order temporarily suspending the operation of another order, judgment or proceeding.

Sub-registry office (সাব-রেজিস্ট্রি অফিস): The government office where deeds of sale, gift, partition, power of attorney and other documents are registered.

Succession certificate (উত্তরাধিকার সনদ (সাকসেশন সার্টিফিকেট)): A certificate granted by the District Judge’s court under the Succession Act 1925 authorising heirs to collect debts and securities of a deceased, such as bank balances.

Summons (সমন): A court notice requiring a person to appear, answer a case or produce documents on a stated date.

Surety (জামিনদার): A person who signs a bail bond guaranteeing that the accused will attend court, and who may be liable if they do not.

Tahsil office (Union Land Office) (তহসিল অফিস (ইউনিয়ন ভূমি অফিস)): The local land office that collects land development tax, keeps local records and reports on mutation applications.

Talaq (তালাক): Divorce by a Muslim husband, which under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 requires written notice to the Chairman and takes effect after 90 days.

Talaq-e-tafwid (তালাক-ই-তাফউইজ): Delegated divorce: the right of divorce given to the wife in the kabinnama, which she may exercise by the same notice procedure.

Title suit (স্বত্ব মামলা): A civil suit about ownership of land, often seeking declaration of title, recovery of possession or cancellation of a deed.

Tribunal (ট্রাইব্যুনাল): A special court set up by a particular law for certain cases, such as the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunal, Cyber Tribunal or Land Survey Tribunal.

Vakalatnama (ওকালতনামা): The document by which a client authorises an advocate to act in a case, signed by both on the prescribed form with the required stamps and filed in court.

Vested property (অর্পিত সম্পত্তি): Property formerly listed as enemy or vested property; return of such property is governed by the Vested Property Return Act 2001, and buyers should check whether land is affected.

Waqf (ওয়াকফ): A permanent dedication of property by a Muslim for religious or charitable purposes, administered under the Waqfs Ordinance 1962 and not saleable as ordinary property.

Warish certificate (ওয়ারিশ সনদ): A certificate listing the heirs of a deceased person, issued by the Union Parishad Chairman, Pourashava Mayor or City Corporation councillor, used for mutation and administrative purposes.

Warrant of arrest (গ্রেপ্তারি পরোয়ানা): A written court order directing police to arrest a named person and bring them before the court.

Will (উইল / ওসিয়তনামা): A document stating how a person’s property should be dealt with after death; a Muslim may bequeath up to one third of the estate without the heirs’ consent.

Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal (নারী ও শিশু নির্যাতন দমন ট্রাইব্যুনাল): The tribunal that tries offences such as rape, dowry violence and abduction under the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000.

Writ petition (রিট পিটিশন): An application to the High Court Division under Article 102 of the Constitution against unlawful action by the government, public authorities or for enforcement of fundamental rights.

Written statement (লিখিত জবাব): The defendant’s written reply to the plaint in a civil suit under Order 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure.