Explainer: Law adviser details Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2025
One of the major features of the proposed law is the requirement for police officers to identify themselves during an arrest and to immediately fill out a Memorandum of Arrest
The Advisory Council of the interim government approved the draft of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2025 today (24 July), as proposed by the Ministry of Law.
In a facebook post, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul gave details about the Act, explaining what the features of the new law would be.
One of the major features of the proposed law is the requirement for police officers to identify themselves during an arrest and to immediately fill out a Memorandum of Arrest.
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This document must include a checklist verifying that the arrestee's legal rights were protected, and it must be presented in court alongside the individual before a magistrate, Asif Nazrul said.
The act also places significant limitations on the use of Section 54 of the existing criminal code. Police will no longer have unrestrained authority to arrest under this section. Instead, they must either witness a cognisable offense or have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it.
These grounds must be recorded in writing, Asif Nazrul added.
Under the new law, families of arrested individuals must be informed promptly, or at the latest within 12 hours of the arrest. Arrestees must also be granted the opportunity to consult with legal counsel.
Additionally, if a detainee is found to be sick or injured after arrest or police remand, they must be examined by a doctor. The cause of injury must be verified, necessary medical treatment provided, and police officers held accountable if responsible, Asif Nazrul further said.
According to the facebook post, another key provision mandates that all arrests, regardless of which agency makes them, must be recorded in the General Diary (GD) of the relevant police station. Every police station and district or metropolitan police headquarters will be required to publicly display daily arrest records and updates, Asif Nazrul said in his post.
The facebook post further said that to ensure the safety and participation of victims and witnesses in the legal process, the act empowers courts to issue protection orders and provide necessary expenses to them.
The new law also limits police remand to a maximum of 15 days in any single case — replacing the previous provision that allowed unlimited remand.
The law introduces stricter penalties for filing false cases. If a case is proven to be fabricated, mandatory punishment must be imposed, and the maximum fine has been raised to Tk1 lakh, Asif Nazrul mentioned in his post.
The council made the approval at its 35th meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
During the meeting, the council also endorsed "Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025" and draft of the "Upazila Parishad (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025".
Besides, the draft of the "Local Government (Municipality) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025" and the "Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025" were approved at the meeting, a Cabinet Division press release said.
