CrPC Amendment Approved: Family to be informed within 12 hours of arrest

The Advisory Council has approved a proposal to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), making it mandatory to notify a detainee’s family, friend, or lawyer within 12 hours of arrest.

The decision came at a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Thursday.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul briefed reporters on the development at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy.

According to the proposal, police must not exceed the 12-hour limit in any circumstances when informing a detainee’s close contact after arrest and detention at a police station.

Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also outlined other decisions made at the meeting.

Under Bangladesh’s Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure, any person arrested must be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours.

Additionally, existing court directives require authorities to notify the arrestee’s family or relatives without delay.