Afzal & Associates — Legal Education
Bangladesh Legal Glossary
Plain-language explanations of common legal terms used in Bangladesh legal practice, court procedure, property matters, criminal process, family law, and dispute resolution.
Understanding Legal Language
Legal terms can have a specific meaning in a statute, court rule, document, or procedural context. A plain-language definition is a starting point, not a complete legal analysis.
The meaning and effect of a term may depend on the relevant jurisdiction, facts, document, legal framework, and date. When a term affects an urgent or high-consequence matter, obtain direct professional review.
Common Legal Terms
- Affidavit (হলফনামা)
- A written statement that a person declares or swears to be true before an authorized person. Its use and evidentiary effect depend on the relevant procedure and purpose.
Context: Check who is authorized to administer the
oath or affirmation and how the affidavit must be used.
- Bail (জামিন)
- A legal process through which an accused person may be released while a criminal investigation or proceeding continues, subject to the court’s conditions and applicable law.
Important: Bail is not an acquittal and does not
determine the final outcome of a criminal case.
- Writ Petition (রিট পিটিশন)
- An application asking a competent superior court to issue a constitutional or public-law direction concerning an unlawful action, omission, decision, or authority.
Context: Jurisdiction, maintainability, alternative
remedies, and the facts must be assessed before filing.
- Injunction (নিষেধাজ্ঞা)
- A court order that restrains a person from doing something or requires a person to take a specified action. It may be temporary, interim, or final depending on the proceeding.
Context: Urgency, evidence, notice, balance of
convenience, and potential harm may be relevant.
- Plaint (আরজি)
- The formal document by which a civil suit is ordinarily initiated, setting out material facts, the cause of action, the parties, and the relief sought.
Context: Filing requirements and the appropriate
court depend on the case and applicable procedure.
- Written Statement (লিখিত জবাব)
- A defendant’s formal response to a plaint or civil claim, addressing the allegations, defenses, admissions, denials, and relevant facts.
Context: Deadlines and procedural requirements should
be checked promptly.
- Legal Notice (আইনি নোটিশ)
- A formal written communication that may assert a position, request action, preserve a record, or invite a response or settlement before further steps are taken.
Important: A legal notice is not automatically a
court order and is not mandatory in every situation.
- Mutation (নামজারি)
- An administrative process for recording a change in a land or property record after a transfer, inheritance, partition, or another relevant event.
Important: Mutation records should be considered with
deeds, title documents, possession, and other evidence; mutation alone
may not establish title.
- Khatian (খতিয়ান)
- A land record or record-of-rights entry containing information about land, interests, possession, classification, or related particulars.
Context: The legal significance of a khatian depends
on its type, date, source, accuracy, and relationship to other
records.
- Mediation (মধ্যস্থতা)
- A process in which a neutral mediator helps parties communicate and explore a voluntary settlement of their dispute.
Important: A settlement depends on the parties’
agreement and should be recorded appropriately.
- Succession (উত্তরাধিকার)
- The legal transfer or devolution of a person’s estate, rights, or obligations after death under the applicable law.
Context: Personal law, family relationships,
documents, property, and applicable succession rules may affect the
analysis.
- Limitation (তামাদি)
- A legal time limit that may apply to bringing a claim, appeal, application, or proceeding.
Important: The exact period, starting point,
exceptions, and effect of delay must be checked for the specific
matter.
Using the Glossary Responsibly
- Definitions are general explanations and are not individualized legal advice.
- A term may have a different meaning or effect in a specific statute, court, document, or procedure.
- Translations and Bengali equivalents are provided for understanding and should be checked against the relevant legal context.
- Legal terminology and procedure may change through amendments, rules, notifications, and decisions.
- Do not rely on a glossary entry alone for filing, signing, responding to a notice, or addressing an urgent matter.
- Ask a qualified lawyer to review important documents and facts.
Need a Term Explained in Your Matter?
Contact the practice with the document, term, relevant facts, dates, jurisdiction, and specific question. An online inquiry does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
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