The Council of Advisors has approved a proposal to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, significantly tightening the rules surrounding arrest notifications. Under the newly adopted provision, if an individual is arrested and taken to a police station, authorities must notify their family, friends, or legal representative within a maximum of 12 hours. This time frame is non-negotiable and cannot be extended under any circumstances.
The decision was finalised during a meeting of the Council of Advisors, chaired by Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Thursday, 24 July. Following the meeting, Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul provided details at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Other attendees at the press briefing included:
- Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor on Local Government
- Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor
Highlights of the Amendment:
| Provision | Previous Rule | Amended Rule |
| Time to notify family/lawyer after arrest | Not explicitly time-bound (guided by court directives) | Must notify within 12 hours |
| Consequences for delay | Undefined | Delay beyond 12 hours not permitted under any condition |
| Court appearance post-arrest | Within 24 hours (unchanged) | Within 24 hours (as per Constitution) |
Currently, the Constitution of Bangladesh and the Code of Criminal Procedure require that a person arrested be presented before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours. However, based on directives from the higher courts, authorities are already required to inform the arrested individual’s relatives immediately upon detention. This amendment formalises and enforces that obligation with a strict time limit.
