CID Cyber Crime Unit Bangladesh (2026) – Officers, Contact, Complaint Process & Powers

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Bangladesh Police is the premier detective and investigative arm of the national police force. Within the CID, a dedicated Cyber Crime Unit has been established to investigate technologically sophisticated offences that fall beyond the capacity of ordinary police stations or district-level units.

The CID Cyber Crime Unit functions under the overall supervision of the Additional Inspector General (Additional IG) of CID and works in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its investigators are trained in digital forensics, network analysis, dark web operations, and cryptocurrency tracing — skills that are essential for modern cyber crime prosecution in Bangladesh.

The unit is headquartered at the CID Complex, Malibagh, Dhaka-1217, and maintains liaison with international law enforcement agencies including Interpol, the FBI Cyber Division, and India's CBI for cross-border cyber crime cases. In 2025–2026, the CID Cyber Crime Unit has seen a significant expansion in both personnel and technical equipment, reflecting the Bangladeshi government's increased focus on digital security following the passage of the Cyber Security Act 2023.

The unit routinely handles cases involving billions of takas in financial fraud, high-profile hacking incidents targeting government infrastructure, and coordinated disinformation campaigns — making it one of the most critical law enforcement bodies in Bangladesh today.

The primary legislation governing CID's cyber crime investigation powers is the Cyber Security Act 2023 (CSA 2023), which came into force replacing the widely criticised Digital Security Act 2018 (DSA 2018). The CSA 2023 provides a reformed framework balancing cyber security enforcement with civil liberties protections.

Under the CSA 2023, CID officers have the following key powers:

• Search and Seizure (Section 38): CID officers can, with a warrant from the Cyber Tribunal, search premises, seize digital devices, and preserve electronic evidence.
• Arrest Without Warrant (Section 39): In cognizable offences under the CSA 2023, CID officers may arrest suspects without a prior warrant where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe a crime has been or is being committed.
• Interception of Communications (Section 42): With prior approval of the government, CID can intercept electronic communications relevant to an investigation.
• Blocking of Digital Content (Section 43): CID can recommend content takedown to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for content linked to criminal activity.
• Cyber Tribunal Referral: All cases investigated by CID under CSA 2023 are tried before the designated Cyber Tribunal established under Section 50 of the Act.

Additionally, Section 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (CrPC) and Chapter XII of the same code govern the general investigative and procedural powers of CID officers as police officers of superior rank.

The CID also retains concurrent jurisdiction under the ICT Act 2006 for cases filed prior to the CSA 2023's commencement, as those proceedings continue under the original legislation.

Many Bangladeshi citizens are confused about which authority to approach when they become a victim of cyber crime. There are three primary law enforcement channels dedicated to cyber crime in Bangladesh, each with a different mandate, jurisdiction, and focus area. Understanding the difference can save you significant time and ensure your complaint reaches the right desk.

As a practical rule: if you are a woman facing online harassment or sextortion, contact PCSW first. For general fraud or social media crimes, use the CCIC portal at cybercrime.gov.bd. For sophisticated hacking, corporate data theft, or organised financial cyber fraud, the CID Cyber Crime Unit is your appropriate authority.

The CID Cyber Crime Unit specialises in complex, high-stakes cyber crimes that require advanced forensic investigation. The following categories of offences typically come under its investigation mandate:

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): State-sponsored or organised hacking attacks on government websites, banks, or critical infrastructure.
• Large-Scale Financial Cyber Fraud: SWIFT banking fraud, mobile banking (bKash, Nagad, Rocket) fraud networks, and investment scam platforms.
• Dark Web Operations: Sale of stolen data, illegal content distribution, and narcotics trading via encrypted platforms.
• Cryptocurrency Crime: Money laundering via Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies; Ponzi schemes marketed as crypto investments.
• Intellectual Property Theft: Large-scale software piracy, corporate data espionage, and trade secret theft via digital means.
• Organised Online Defamation Campaigns: Coordinated fake social media accounts targeting public figures, politicians, or journalists.
• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Production, distribution, or possession of such content online — investigated in coordination with international agencies.
• Cross-Border Cyber Crime: Cases involving suspects or servers located outside Bangladesh, requiring mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs).
• Cyber Terrorism: Threats to national security infrastructure through digital means.

For lesser offences — such as a single instance of Facebook harassment or a personal online scam of small value — CID may refer you to the local police station's cyber desk or the CCIC. However, CID remains the appellate investigative authority if local police fail to investigate adequately.

The CID headquarters is located at the CID Complex, 36 Sheikh Mujib Road, Malibagh, Dhaka-1217. The complex houses the Cyber Crime Unit, forensic laboratories, and the offices of senior CID officers. Below are the key contact details for the CID Cyber Crime Unit as of 2026:

When visiting the CID Malibagh office in person, you should bring: your National Identity Card (NID), printed copies of all digital evidence (screenshots, transaction records, URLs), and a written complaint letter addressed to the Additional Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime Unit, CID, Bangladesh Police.

It is advisable to also send an email to cyber@police.gov.bd simultaneously with your walk-in complaint to create a documented digital record of your complaint. This is particularly important if your case involves urgency, such as ongoing extortion or live data theft.

Filing a complaint with the CID Cyber Crime Unit can be done through multiple channels. Below is a step-by-step guide for the most effective approach in 2026:

1. Preserve All Evidence First: Before contacting CID, take screenshots of all relevant content, save URLs, preserve chat logs, download transaction histories, and record dates and times of incidents. Do not delete any messages even if they are disturbing — they are critical evidence.
2. File a General Diary (GD) at Your Local Police Station: In most cases, CID expects a local police GD to exist before they take over the case. Visit your nearest police station's duty officer and file a General Diary with a brief description of the cyber crime. Obtain the GD number in writing.
3. Submit an Online Complaint at cybercrime.gov.bd: Navigate to cybercrime.gov.bd, register with your NID and mobile number, select the crime type, and submit your complaint with evidence attachments. Note your reference number.
4. Send an Email to cyber@police.gov.bd: Write a formal complaint email with: your full name, NID number, contact number, description of the crime, GD number, and attach all evidence. Subject line format: Cyber Crime Complaint – [Your Name] – [Crime Type].
5. Walk-In at CID Malibagh: For high-priority or complex cases, visit the CID Complex at Malibagh in person during office hours. Bring all documents, a written complaint, and your GD number. Request to speak with the Cyber Crime Unit duty officer.
6. Follow Up Regularly: After filing, follow up every 7–10 days either in person or via email. If no action is taken within 30 days, you may approach the Cyber Tribunal directly or consult a cyber crime lawyer to file a petition.

Important: False or malicious complaints under the Cyber Security Act 2023 are themselves a punishable offence under Section 53, so ensure all information you provide is truthful and accurate.

Understanding the post-complaint process helps manage expectations and allows you to take timely follow-up actions. Here is a general timeline of what happens after a cyber crime complaint is filed with CID or CCIC in Bangladesh:

Victims are encouraged to stay in regular contact with the investigating officer and to retain a private cyber crime lawyer who can independently monitor the progress of the case and file supplementary petitions if investigation stalls.

Filing a complaint with CID is only one side of cyber crime justice in Bangladesh. Many victims discover that without proper legal representation, their case either stalls during investigation or fails to result in conviction at the Cyber Tribunal. There are several situations in which retaining an experienced cyber crime lawyer becomes not just advisable, but essential:

• CID or police refuse to register your complaint despite clear evidence of a cognizable offence.
• You have been falsely accused of a cyber crime under CSA 2023 and face potential arrest or bail complications.
• Your case involves significant financial loss and you need to pursue civil remedies alongside criminal proceedings.
• Cross-border elements exist in your case requiring MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty) procedures or coordination with foreign platforms.
• Bail applications need to be filed for arrested accused — cyber crime cases under CSA 2023 are often non-bailable at the FIR stage.
• Cyber Tribunal proceedings are highly technical and require a lawyer who understands both digital evidence law and criminal procedure.

Advocate Md. Shah Alam, practising at his Uttara chamber in Dhaka, is an experienced criminal and cyber law advocate who has represented clients before the Cyber Tribunal, the High Court Division, and CID. He advises victims on evidence preservation, complaint strategy, and represents accused persons in bail hearings and trials under the Cyber Security Act 2023. For a consultation, contact our office or visit our Criminal Lawyer service page.

The CID Cyber Crime Unit is the specialised cyber investigation division of the Criminal Investigation Department of Bangladesh Police. It is located at the CID Complex, 36 Sheikh Mujib Road, Malibagh, Dhaka-1217. It investigates complex, high-profile cyber crimes nationwide.

The CID Cyber Crime Unit handles complex, nationwide cyber crimes such as large-scale financial fraud, hacking of critical infrastructure, and cross-border crimes. The CCIC (Cyber Crime Investigation Centre) primarily operates under Dhaka Metropolitan Police and handles general cyber complaints from citizens, including social media harassment and basic online fraud, mainly via the cybercrime.gov.bd portal.

You can contact the CID Cyber Crime Unit by: (1) emailing cyber@police.gov.bd, (2) submitting an online complaint at cybercrime.gov.bd, or (3) visiting the CID Complex at Malibagh, Dhaka in person during office hours (Sunday–Thursday, 9 AM–5 PM). It is recommended to first file a General Diary (GD) at your local police station before approaching CID.

The primary law is the Cyber Security Act 2023 (CSA 2023), which replaced the Digital Security Act 2018. CID also derives investigative powers from the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (CrPC) and, for older cases, from the ICT Act 2006. Key powers include search and seizure (Section 38), arrest without warrant for cognizable offences (Section 39), communication interception (Section 42), and referral to the Cyber Tribunal (Section 50).

Yes. Under Section 39 of the Cyber Security Act 2023, CID officers can arrest a person without a warrant if they have reasonable grounds to believe that a cognizable offence under the Act has been or is being committed. However, the arrested person must be brought before a court within 24 hours as required by Article 33 of the Bangladesh Constitution.

If CID fails to investigate your complaint within a reasonable time (generally 30 days), you have several options: (1) file a written complaint to the Additional IG of CID, (2) approach the Cyber Tribunal directly with a naraji (dissatisfied) petition under the Cyber Security Act 2023, or (3) hire a cyber crime lawyer who can file a writ petition before the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court compelling investigation.