Nari Nirjaton Case in Bangladesh: How to File, Main Sections, Punishment and Cost

In this guide: Main sections and punishments · How to file a nari nirjaton case · What a nari nirjaton case costs · Dowry cases: bail, settlement and withdrawal · If you are falsely accused · Time limits for investigation and trial

The short answer

A nari nirjaton case is filed under the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000, which covers rape, sexual oppression, abduction, acid attacks and violence for dowry. You can lodge an FIR at the police station, or file a complaint petition directly before the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunal if the police do not act. The case is tried by the tribunal. Punishments are severe, bail is restricted, and a false case is itself a crime. Filing costs little; the main cost is the lawyer, and free legal aid is available.

Main sections and punishments

Demanding dowry without violence is punished under the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018: 1 to 5 years and a fine of up to Tk 50,000. The 2026 amendment (Act 85 of 2026) revised the definition of rape, created a separate section 9(Kha) offence of sexual intercourse by deceitful promise of marriage, punishable with up to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment, set up child rape tribunals and cut rape-case timelines to 15 days for investigation and 90 days for trial. Section 9(Kha) is under challenge before the High Court Division but stands until the rule is decided. Check the current text for any case.

How to file a nari nirjaton case

1. Safety first. In danger, call 999. The national helpline for violence against women and children is 109.
2. Medical evidence. Go to a government hospital or One-Stop Crisis Centre as soon as possible. Do not wash or change clothes after a sexual assault if you can avoid it.
3. FIR at the police station. Give a written statement with dates, place, the accused and witnesses. Ask for a copy of the FIR with its number.
4. If the police refuse, file a complaint petition before the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunal. The tribunal can order an inquiry and take the case.
5. Investigation and charge sheet. Police investigate within the time limits in the Act and submit a charge sheet or final report. You can object to a final report before the tribunal.

What a nari nirjaton case costs

Lodging an FIR is free, and a complaint petition carries only a small court fee. The real costs are the lawyer’s fee, medical and travel costs, and time at hearings, which depend on the case. A woman who cannot afford a lawyer can get one free through the District Legal Aid Office or the national legal aid hotline. Ask any lawyer for a written fee estimate at the start.

Dowry cases: bail, settlement and withdrawal

• Bail: offences under the Nari-o-Shishu Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act are generally non-bailable. Bail is decided by the tribunal or, on appeal, the High Court Division, on the facts and the medical evidence.
• Settlement: some dowry offences can be compromised with the court’s permission. A private settlement alone does not end a case.
• Withdrawal: a complainant cannot simply withdraw a serious case. The court decides, and a sworn statement that the case was false can expose the complainant to section 17.
• Family Court claims for denmohor and maintenance run separately and can proceed at the same time.

If you are falsely accused

• Do not ignore a summons or warrant. Appear with a lawyer and apply for bail with documents showing the background, such as a pending divorce or denmohor dispute.
• Collect evidence early: messages, call records, witnesses, travel records.
• Where there is no case on the face of the record, the High Court Division can quash proceedings under section 561A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• After acquittal, a complaint under section 17 or the Dowry Act can be brought against a false complainant.

See also our guide on what to do in a false case.

Time limits for investigation and trial

The Act sets deadlines for police investigation and requires the tribunal to finish trial within 180 days, and the 2026 amendment cut the rape-case timeline to 15 days for investigation and 90 days for trial. The High Court Division has held that the 180-day limit is directory: a case does not end because the deadline passes. Delays are common, so steady follow-up by a lawyer matters.