Govt approves CrPC amendment : Families must be notified within 12hrs of arrest
- Update Time : Thursday, 24 July, 2025, 05:06 pm
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Online Desk : The government has approved amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), making it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to inform the family of an arrestee within 12 hours of the arrest. The decision was taken on Thursday during a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at his office in the capital. Briefing reporters after the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul outlined the key provisions of the amendments aimed at ensuring greater accountability and transparency in arrests.
“From now on, any police officer making an arrest must have proper identification, including a nameplate and official ID card, which must be shown upon request,” he said. He added, “After bringing the arrestee to the police station, the officer must notify the family within 12 hours—no exceptions. If the person being arrested feels unwell, immediate medical attention must be arranged.” The law advisor also said the arresting officer must record the reason for the arrest, who conducted it, and with which family member contact was made. A centralized arrest database will be maintained at the police headquarters. Amendments have also been made to Section 54 of the CrPC. Under the revised section, police may arrest a person if they commit a crime in the presence of law enforcement or if there is a reasonable risk the person might flee.
In addition, the amendment includes the introduction of online bail bond services and a digital system for issuing court summonses. The reforms come amid growing calls for safeguarding citizens’ rights and modernizing the country’s criminal justice procedures.
