Domestic Violence Protection Order in Bangladesh: How to Apply & Know Your Rights

Bangladesh enacted the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 to provide comprehensive civil and criminal remedies for victims of domestic abuse. The Act recognizes domestic violence broadly, including:

• Physical abuse: Any act causing bodily pain, harm, injury, or endangering health
• Psychological abuse: Verbal abuse, harassment, threats, humiliation, or controlling behavior
• Sexual abuse: Any form of sexual assault or forced sexual activity within the domestic relationship
• Financial/economic abuse: Deprivation of economic resources, preventing access to funds, or forcing the victim into financial dependence

The Act applies to domestic relationships meaning persons who live or have lived together in a shared household, whether as family members, spouses, or cohabitants.

The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 provides protection to:

• Wives and ex-wives
• Women in live-in or cohabiting relationships
• Female relatives of the husband (sisters-in-law, mother-in-law disputes in shared households)
• Children within the domestic household

While the Act primarily protects women and children, male victims of domestic abuse may seek remedies under general criminal law provisions, including Section 323 (causing hurt), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), and relevant sections of the Penal Code 1860.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for protection under this Act, consult a family lawyer in Bangladesh who specializes in domestic violence cases.

Under the 2010 Act, courts can issue several types of orders:

• Protection Order: Prohibits the abuser from committing domestic violence, entering the victim's place of residence or work, contacting the victim, or approaching the victim's children
• Residence Order: Allows the victim to remain in the shared household or grants her the right to a particular residence, preventing the abuser from evicting her
• Monetary Relief Order: Directs the abuser to pay compensation for losses suffered, including medical expenses, loss of earnings, and damage to property
• Custody Order: Grants temporary custody of children to the victim for their safety and protection
• Compensation Order: Awards financial compensation for physical and emotional harm caused by domestic abuse

These orders can be interim (temporary, granted immediately for urgency) or final (issued after full hearing).

Here is the step-by-step process to apply for a domestic violence protection order in Bangladesh:

1. Approach the Police or Court: You may file a complaint at the nearest police station or apply directly to the District Magistrate or First Class Judicial Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area where you reside or where the violence occurred.
2. Prepare Your Application: The application should describe the nature and incidents of abuse with dates, your relationship to the abuser, the relief you are seeking, and any witnesses or evidence available.
3. Documents to Submit: Medical certificates, photographs of injuries, written records of abuse incidents, FIR copies if police complaint filed, and your national ID card.
4. Court Examination: The Magistrate examines the application and may hold an ex-parte hearing if urgency is established. The abuser is served with notice to appear for the main hearing.
5. Interim Order: If the Magistrate is satisfied that immediate danger exists, an interim protection order is issued on the same day or within 24 hours, without waiting for the abuser's response.
6. Final Hearing: Both parties present evidence. The court issues a final order specifying the protections and duration.

In cases of immediate danger, the Domestic Violence Act 2010 allows courts to issue emergency ex-parte interim orders without hearing from the abuser. These can be obtained within 24 hours if you demonstrate that there is an immediate threat of violence or that waiting for the other party would expose you or your children to further harm.

Emergency relief available includes:

• Immediate removal of the abuser from the shared home
• Police escort to safety or to collect belongings
• Emergency custody arrangements for children
• Emergency maintenance payments

Contact the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) at 16430 (toll-free) or approach the one-stop crisis centers (OCC) at major government hospitals for immediate support. Women and children can also receive shelter at government-run safe homes.

Violation of a domestic violence protection order is a criminal offense under the 2010 Act. If the abuser breaches any term of a court-issued protection order:

• You should immediately report the breach to the nearest police station, showing them a copy of the protection order
• The police are obligated to act on the breach report and may arrest the abuser
• The abuser can be prosecuted and faces imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to BDT 10,000 for a first offense
• Repeat violations carry higher penalties
• You may also apply back to the court for stronger enforcement measures

Always keep a certified copy of your protection order with you. Contact our legal team immediately if your protection order is violated.

If you are a victim of domestic violence in Bangladesh, these resources can help:

• National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO): Call 16430 (toll-free) for free legal advice and representation
• Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA): Provides legal and shelter support for women
• One-Stop Crisis Centers (OCC): Available at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other major hospitals providing medical treatment, legal aid, shelter, and police support under one roof
• Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK): A prominent NGO offering legal aid and human rights support
• Police Women Support and Investigation Division: Available at all metropolitan and district police headquarters

A family lawyer specializing in domestic violence cases can guide you through the protection order process and ensure your safety while your case proceeds.

The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 primarily protects women and children. Men who are victims of abuse may file complaints under general criminal law provisions of the Penal Code 1860, including sections on assault and criminal intimidation, or seek injunctions through civil courts.

Interim protection orders remain in effect until the final hearing, which typically takes 1 to 3 months. Final protection orders are issued for a specific duration determined by the court and can be renewed or extended if the threat continues.

Yes, you can apply yourself. The Domestic Violence Act allows victims to approach the Magistrate directly. However, having a lawyer significantly increases the quality of your application, the likelihood of obtaining a strong order, and your ability to enforce it.

A protection order itself is a civil remedy and does not automatically result in arrest. However, if the abuse constitutes a criminal offense such as assault or rape, a parallel criminal FIR can be filed, potentially leading to arrest. Breach of a protection order is a criminal offense that can lead to arrest.

Yes. The 2010 Act covers all members of the shared household, including in-laws who live with you. If your mother-in-law, father-in-law, or other household members are abusing you, they can also be named in the protection order application.