Affidavit Bangladesh: Purpose, Types, and How to Make One

An affidavit (হলফনামা in Bangla) is a written statement of facts that the maker swears under oath to be true. It is used as evidence in court proceedings and for a wide range of official purposes. Key characteristics:

• Must be signed by the deponent (the person making the statement).
• Must be sworn before a Notary Public, Oath Commissioner, or Magistrate — who administers the oath.
• Once sworn, the deponent is legally bound — making a false affidavit is perjury under the Penal Code.

An experienced civil lawyer in Dhaka can prepare a legally sound affidavit for your specific purpose.

Affidavits are required or useful in numerous situations in Bangladesh:

• Court proceedings: As evidence, in support of interlocutory applications (stay orders, injunctions), or as a substitute for oral testimony in some matters.
• Name change: A sworn affidavit published in a national newspaper is the primary method of legally changing one's name in Bangladesh.
• Age declaration: Where no birth certificate exists, an affidavit can establish age for official purposes.
• Property matters: Confirming ownership, possession, or family relationships in the absence of formal documents.
• Government/visa applications: Many embassies and government offices require sworn affidavits for specific declarations.
• Academic purposes: Declaring equivalence of qualifications or name discrepancies in certificates.

A legally valid affidavit in Bangladesh must contain:

1. Heading: Court name (if court-related) or general heading.
2. Deponent's identification: Full name, father's name, address, and NID number.
3. Statement of facts: Clearly numbered paragraphs stating each fact. Use plain, precise language.
4. Verification clause: A declaration that the contents are true to the best of the deponent's knowledge.
5. Deponent's signature.
6. Jurat clause: The section completed by the oath-administering official recording that the oath was administered, the date, and their signature and official seal.

Contact Advocate Md. Shah Alam in Uttara to have your affidavit professionally drafted and sworn.

Making a false statement in an affidavit sworn under oath constitutes perjury under the Penal Code 1860 (Section 191-193) — punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment. If the false affidavit is used to defraud or commit another crime, additional charges apply. Never include anything in an affidavit that you do not know to be true.

You can draft the content yourself, but the affidavit must be sworn before an authorized official (Notary Public, Oath Commissioner, or Magistrate). It is strongly advisable to have a lawyer draft it to ensure legal precision, especially for court proceedings.

A simple affidavit can typically be sworn within the same day — visit a Notary Public with your draft, NID, and the official will administer the oath and stamp the document. For registered affidavits, the Sub-Registrar's office adds a further step.

No. An affidavit is a sworn statement of facts. A power of attorney authorises another person to act on your behalf. They are entirely different documents used for different purposes, though both require signing before authorized officials.