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Criminal penalties in Bangladesh
Checked in October 2026 against the The Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) as published on Bangladesh Laws (bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd), read in English.
These are statutory ranges for a first offence, from the least to the most the law allows. A court decides the actual sentence in each case. We read the code in its original language and give the offences in plain English, with the legal term where it helps. For anything that matters, rely on the code itself. Not legal advice.
How Bangladesh sets penalties
- Bangladesh's Penal Code of 1860 is the old Indian Penal Code as kept and amended in Bangladesh. Most sections state a maximum: 'imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years'. 'Either description' means rigorous (with hard labour) or simple imprisonment. A few sections state a minimum, for example 'shall not be less than seven years' (ss. 364A and 397).
- Most sections add 'and shall also be liable to fine' without a sum, so the Code does not fix the fine for those offences. A few state one, for example a fine of up to 1,000 taka for voluntarily causing hurt (s. 323).
- The Code has one offence of murder (s. 300 to 302), with no degrees. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s. 304) is the nearest to manslaughter, and killing by negligence is s. 304A.
- Where several people commit a dacoity (a robbery by five or more people), each is liable for the murder if one of them commits murder (s. 396). Robbery with a deadly weapon or grievous hurt carries at least seven years (s. 397).
- Rape is left out of this table because it is mainly dealt with under a special law that was not read, and drink driving because it is in the road transport laws, which were not read. This table shows first-offence ranges.
Death penalty: Yes. The Penal Code provides death, or imprisonment for life, for murder (s. 302); death for murder by a person already under sentence of imprisonment for life (s. 303); death, life or rigorous imprisonment of 10 years for murder committed in a dacoity (s. 396); and death, life or 7 to 14 years for kidnapping a child under ten to murder or harm them (s. 364A).
Read the Bangladesh legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
First-degree murder
Death, or imprisonment for life, and a fine
Murder (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Death
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine (no sum stated)
Death, or imprisonment for life.
Bangladesh has one offence of murder (s. 302): the punishment is death, or imprisonment for life, and a fine. A person who commits murder while under sentence of imprisonment for life is punished with death (s. 303).
Second-degree murder
The same offence: death, or imprisonment for life (s. 302)
Murder (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Death
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine (no sum stated)
Death, or imprisonment for life.
The Penal Code does not divide murder into degrees. The single offence of murder is shown under first-degree murder.
Voluntary manslaughter
Up to 10 years or a fine (a likely death, without intent); life or up to 10 years (with intent to kill or cause likely fatal injury); up to 5 years (negligence)
Causing death by a rash or negligent act (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 5 years
- Fine
- Or a fine, or both
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder, done with knowledge that death is likely but without intention to kill (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Or a fine, or both
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder, done with intention to cause death or a likely fatal injury (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to 10 years.
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s. 304) has two forms: with the intention of causing death or an injury likely to cause death, the punishment is imprisonment for life or up to ten years, and a fine; with only the knowledge that death is likely, it is up to ten years or a fine or both. Causing death by a rash or negligent act is s. 304A.
Robbery
Up to 10 years (up to 14 years on the highway at night); at least 7 years if armed or if grievous hurt is caused; life or up to 10 years if hurt is caused
Robbery (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years; up to 14 years if committed on the highway between sunset and sunrise.
Voluntarily causing hurt in committing or attempting robbery (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Robbery or dacoity with a deadly weapon, grievous hurt, or an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt (Offence)
- Least
- 7 years
- Most
- No maximum stated in the section
The section states only that the imprisonment shall not be less than seven years.
Dacoity (robbery by five or more persons) (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Burglary
Up to 3 years (up to 10 if the offence intended is theft); by night up to 5 years (up to 14 if theft); up to 14 years after preparing to hurt or restrain
Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 3 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Up to 10 years if the offence intended is theft.
The same, by night (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 5 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Up to 14 years if the offence intended is theft.
The same, by night, after preparing to cause hurt, assault or wrongful restraint, or to put a person in fear (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 14 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
The Code speaks of lurking house-trespass and house-breaking in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment.
Arson
Up to 7 years (mischief by fire); life or up to 10 years (to destroy a dwelling, place of worship or place for keeping property)
Mischief by fire or an explosive substance, intending or knowing it likely to cause damage of 100 taka or more (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Mischief by fire or an explosive substance, intending or knowing it likely to destroy a building ordinarily used as a place of worship, a human dwelling or a place for keeping property (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to 10 years.
Aggravated assault
Up to 1 year or a fine (hurt); up to 3 years (hurt by a weapon); up to 7 years (grievous hurt); life or up to 10 years (grievous hurt by a weapon)
Voluntarily causing hurt (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 1 year
- Fine
- Or a fine of up to 1,000 taka, or both
Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 3 years
- Fine
- Or a fine, or both
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to 10 years.
The Code speaks of hurt and grievous hurt, and treats hurt caused by dangerous weapons or means (shooting, stabbing or cutting instruments, fire, poison, corrosive or explosive substances, animals) more severely.
Kidnapping
Up to 7 years (kidnapping); up to 10 years (to subject to grievous hurt or slavery); life or up to 10 years (to murder); death, life or 7 to 14 years (a child under ten, to murder or harm)
Kidnapping from Bangladesh or from lawful guardianship (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Kidnapping or abducting in order that a person may be subjected to grievous hurt, slavery or unnatural lust (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Kidnapping or abducting in order that a person may be murdered (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Kidnapping or abducting a person under ten, in order that they may be murdered, seriously hurt, enslaved or subjected to lust (Offence)
- Least
- 7 years
- Most
- Death
Death, or imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment of 7 to 14 years.
Embezzlement
Up to 3 years or a fine (criminal breach of trust); up to 7 years (a clerk or servant); life or up to 10 years (a public servant, banker, merchant or agent)
Criminal breach of trust (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 3 years
- Fine
- Or a fine, or both
Criminal breach of trust by a clerk or servant (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Criminal breach of trust by a public servant, or by a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to 10 years.
Embezzlement is criminal breach of trust (s. 405): being entrusted with property and dishonestly misappropriating or converting it to one's own use.
Forgery
Up to 2 years or a fine (forgery); up to 7 years (to cheat); life or up to 10 years (a valuable security or will)
Forgery (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 2 years
- Fine
- Or a fine, or both
Forgery intending the document to be used for cheating (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 7 years
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Forging a document purporting to be a valuable security, a will, or an authority to adopt, or to give authority to receive money or property (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Imprisonment for life
- Fine
- Also liable to a fine
Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to 10 years.
Fraudulently or dishonestly using as genuine a document known or believed to be forged (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- As for the forger of the document
Punished in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document.
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