Legal Updates: New Laws and Amendments in Bangladesh
Short, dated notes on changes in Bangladesh law and court practice that affect our clients, written in the chamber and reviewed by an advocate.
CrPC Amendment Act 2026: new safeguards on arrest, remand and investigation
Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2026: arrest memo, family and lawyer contact, section 54 limits, remand cap, investigation deadline.
Digital marriage and divorce registration: the rollout has been signed
Digital marriage and divorce registration is rolling out: online fees and digital certificates under the amended 2009 Rules, a December 2025 High Court direction, and the implementation agreement signed in September 2026.
Invest Bangladesh Act 2026: BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority merged into one agency
The Invest Bangladesh Act 2026 merged BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority into one agency from 23 August 2026. What it means for registrations, old permits and new filings.
Mandatory pre-case mediation: what the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act 2026 means
Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act 2026: family, rent, partition, pre-emption, parents’ maintenance and dowry disputes must try mediation first.
Finance Act 2026: income tax return filing changes from 1 July 2026
Finance Act 2026: year-round income tax filing, a 5% rebate (up to Tk 25,000) for filing by 30 September, additional tax from 1 January 2027, new tax-free limits, and corporate rates with the banking-channel condition.
Finance Act 2026: tax return proof (PSR) now required for namjari and partition
From 1 July 2026, namjari and partition of land and flats in city corporation, pourashava and cantonment areas require proof of income tax return submission (PSR), under the Finance Act 2026.
Cyber Protection Act 2026: the June 2026 amendment and the new draft changes
The June 2026 amendment on harmful AI content and takedowns, and a September 2026 draft proposing a new rumour offence that is not yet law.
Cheque dishonour cases: NI (Amendment) Act 2026 changes which court tries a section 138 case
Act 65 of 2026 substitutes section 141(c): section 138 cases over a cheque of more than Tk 5 lakh are tried by a Joint Sessions Judge, others by a Magistrate. Compounding and the 50% appeal deposit are unchanged.
Land Use Control and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance 2026: 18 land zones, new offences
Ordinance 12 of 2026 zones all land into 18 classes; unpermitted zone change or filling of farmland and waterbodies is an offence triable by mobile courts, with penalties up to 3 years or Tk 10 lakh.
Bainanama deadline doubled: 60 days to register a sale agreement from 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026 a bainanama must be presented for registration within 60 days of signing (previously 30), under s.17A Registration Act 1908 and s.54A Transfer of Property Act.
Apostille in force: one certificate now replaces embassy legalisation of documents
The Hague Apostille Convention has been in force for Bangladesh since 30 March 2025: one certificate replaces embassy legalisation for public documents, with the MoFA issuing apostilles online.
Other recent law changes, explained in our guides
- Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 (Act No. 43 of 2026): what employees are owed when a job ends.
- Land Crime Prevention and Remedy Act 2023 offences, punishments and how to complain about land grabbing and forged deeds.
- Family Courts Act 2023 what the Family Court now hears.
- Land Development Tax Act 2023 paying land development tax (khajna) online.
- Power of Attorney Rules, as amended in 2025 making a power of attorney from abroad.
We update this page when a new Act, an amendment or an important change in court practice affects our clients.
Laws and forms behind this guide
Authentic texts hosted by BD Advocacy. Section numbers are the ones this guide relies on.
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