How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint Bangladesh: Step-by-Step Guide

Bangladesh law recognizes a wide range of cyber crimes under the Digital Security Act 2018 (DSA) and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act 2006. Common cyber crimes include:

• Online harassment, stalking, and threats
• Facebook or social media defamation
• Hacking and unauthorized computer access
• Mobile banking fraud (bKash, Nagad, Rocket)
• Online financial scams and e-commerce fraud
• Cyber blackmail and sextortion
• Data theft and identity fraud
• Spreading misinformation or false news online

If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, consult a cyber law lawyer in Uttara or Dhaka before filing.

Two primary statutes apply:

• Digital Security Act 2018 (DSA): The principal cyber crime law. Covers hacking (Section 17), spreading false information (Section 25), online defamation (Section 29), cyber terrorism (Section 27), and pornography/blackmail (Section 26). Penalties range from imprisonment to fines — some offences carry up to 14 years' imprisonment.
• ICT Act 2006 (as amended 2013): Still applicable for older cases. Section 57 was widely used before DSA but has been partially repealed.

The Penal Code 1860 also applies for cheating (Section 420), defamation (Sections 499–500), and criminal intimidation (Section 506) when the conduct is online.

You have three parallel routes — many victims use all three simultaneously:

1. Local Police Station: File a General Diary (GD) or FIR at the nearest thana. For cyber-specific cases, the officer should route it to the Cyber Crime Unit (CCU).
2. Cyber Crime Unit (CCU), CID: The Criminal Investigation Department's dedicated cyber unit at Dhaka investigates complex digital crimes. Visit CID HQ, Malibagh, Dhaka, or contact them online via the BD police portal.
3. CIRT Bangladesh: For national cyber security incidents — more relevant for businesses and government entities. File at cirt.gov.bd.

Important: For offences under the Digital Security Act, you may also file a complaint directly before the Cyber Tribunal, which has been established under the DSA.

Strong evidence dramatically increases the chances of a successful case. Collect and preserve:

• Screenshots: Full-page screenshots of offending posts, messages, or profiles — include the URL bar in the screenshot.
• URLs and links to the offending content.
• Transaction records: For financial fraud — bank statements, bKash/Nagad transaction history, SMS confirmations.
• Call/message logs: Phone records, WhatsApp/Messenger screenshots, email headers.
• Witness information: Names of people who also saw or received the content.
• Date and time records of each incident.

A cyber law lawyer can advise on obtaining a court order to preserve digital evidence before it is deleted.

Bangladesh has a dedicated Cyber Tribunal established under the Digital Security Act 2018. The court sits in Dhaka and has exclusive jurisdiction over DSA cases. Filing process:

1. Submit a written complaint (narazi petition) to the Cyber Tribunal judge through your lawyer.
2. The judge may order the Cyber Crime Unit to investigate.
3. If a charge sheet is filed by police, the trial proceeds before the Cyber Tribunal.
4. Interim relief — such as removal of defamatory content — can be sought through court orders during the trial.

Cases at the Cyber Tribunal are typically faster than regular criminal courts, though the timeline depends on the complexity of the case.

Filing a cyber crime complaint without legal guidance often results in delayed investigations, rejected complaints, or improperly preserved evidence. An experienced cyber law lawyer in Dhaka will:

• Advise which law best fits your case.
• Draft a clear, legally sound complaint.
• File simultaneously in the police station and Cyber Tribunal if needed.
• Apply for court orders to remove harmful content.
• Track investigation progress and apply pressure when stalled.

Advocate Md. Shah Alam has experience in cyber crime cases before Bangladesh courts. Contact us in Uttara, Dhaka for a confidential consultation.

You can submit a complaint through the Bangladesh Police portal (police.gov.bd) or the CIRT website for initial reporting. However, for DSA cases and formal FIRs, a physical visit to the police station or Cyber Tribunal is required.

Investigations can take anywhere from a few weeks for straightforward fraud cases to several months for complex hacking or organised fraud cases. A lawyer can monitor progress and push for timely action.

Yes. If the victim is in Bangladesh and the harm occurred here, Bangladesh courts have jurisdiction regardless of where the offender is located. International cooperation for enforcement is an additional challenge.

A General Diary (GD) is a preliminary record. An FIR (First Information Report) formally starts the criminal investigation. For serious cyber crimes — hacking, blackmail, fraud — file an FIR, not just a GD.

Yes. The Cyber Tribunal can issue orders directing platforms to remove defamatory or illegal content. This is typically a faster remedy than waiting for the platform's internal review process.