General Diary (GD) vs FIR in Bangladesh: When to File Which (2026)

GD vs FIR Bangladesh: which record you need in 2026

The GD vs FIR Bangladesh question decides what happens after you walk into a police station. A First Information Report puts a cognizable offence on the record and obliges the police to start an investigation. A General Diary entry records a fact, a loss, a threat or a non-cognizable allegation, and usually leads to no investigation unless a magistrate orders one. Pick the wrong one and you can lose weeks, lose evidence, or end up with a record that does nothing for you.

This guide explains the legal basis of both records under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, the Police Act 1861 and the Police Regulations, Bengal; how cognizable and non-cognizable offences are told apart; how the nationwide Online GD service works in 2026; what to do when the police refuse to record an FIR, including a complaint petition to a magistrate under section 200; how GDs work for lost passports and other documents; how a non-cognizable case moves; and what weight each record carries in court. Arrest, bail and the wider criminal process are covered in our guide to criminal law in Bangladesh.

Summary: An FIR is recorded under section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for a cognizable offence, and the police may then investigate without a magistrate's order. A General Diary entry is the station's running record of events; for a non-cognizable offence, section 155 requires the officer to enter the substance of the information and refer the informant to a magistrate. Where the police refuse an FIR, the complainant can go straight to a magistrate with a complaint petition.

Key point: The High Court Division has held that the officer in charge has an inviolable duty to register an FIR once the information discloses a cognizable offence, whatever the place of occurrence. Since September 2025 every type of GD can also be filed online through the Bangladesh Police Online GD app.

At a glance

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Table of Contents

GD vs FIR Bangladesh: the core difference

Both records are made at the same desk, usually by the duty officer, and both start with someone telling the police what happened. The difference lies in what the law requires the police to do next. An FIR is the formal first information of a cognizable offence. Once it is recorded, the officer in charge sends a report to the magistrate and the case is investigated.[2] A General Diary entry is a record that something was reported. It can later serve as evidence that you reported it, and when, but by itself it does not open a criminal case.[7]

Put simply, the FIR starts a prosecution and the GD creates a record. The FIR is the right tool when a cognizable offence such as theft, robbery, kidnapping, rape or murder has been committed. The GD is the right tool when you need a dated official record of a loss, a threat, a missing person, a minor incident or a non-cognizable allegation.[8] The choice is not always yours: the classification of the offence, not the label on your application, decides which record the law requires.

Who controls the case afterwards

Once an FIR is registered, the State controls the investigation. The informant becomes a witness and cannot simply withdraw a case for a non-compoundable offence. A GD leaves the next step with you: for a non-cognizable matter, the officer refers you to the magistrate, and nothing moves until you or the police apply for an order.[2] That is why a GD is never a substitute for an FIR when a serious offence has occurred.

A common misconception

Many people file a GD for a serious crime because it feels less confrontational. This is a mistake. A GD describing an assault or a theft does not oblige the police to investigate, and a long gap before a proper FIR is filed can later be used to attack the credibility of the prosecution. If a cognizable offence has been committed, insist on an FIR.

The legal basis for GD vs FIR Bangladesh: CrPC, Police Act and the PRB

Three layers of law govern these records. The Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 sets out the duty to record information and what follows from it. The Police Act 1861 requires every station to keep a general diary. The Police Regulations, Bengal, adopted in 1943 and still applied in Bangladesh, prescribe the forms, the handling of copies and the station's internal procedures.[8]

Section 154: information in cognizable cases

Section 154 provides that information about a cognizable offence given orally to an officer in charge of a police station must be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, read over to the informant, and signed by the informant. The substance is then entered in a book kept in the form the Government prescribes.[2] Written information is treated the same way. The officer's duty is to record what the informant says, not to decide first whether it is true.

Section 155: information in non-cognizable cases

Under section 155(1), when information about a non-cognizable offence committed within the station's limits is given to the officer in charge, he must enter its substance in a book kept as before and refer the informant to the magistrate. Section 155(2) bars the police from investigating a non-cognizable case without the order of a first or second class magistrate with power to try it or send it for trial. Under section 155(3), an officer acting on that order has the same investigative powers as in a cognizable case, except the power to arrest without warrant.[2]

Police Act 1861 and the general diary

Section 44 of the Police Act 1861 requires the officer in charge of each police station to keep a general diary in the form the Government prescribes, recording complaints and charges, the names of arrested persons and complainants, the offences charged, property seized and witnesses examined. The district magistrate may call for and inspect it.[7] The general diary is therefore a statutory register, not an informal notebook.

Police Regulations, Bengal

The PRB fill in the detail. Regulation 243 governs how the officer in charge drafts the FIR, which is recorded on B.P. Form No. 27; it allows hearsay information to be first information but requires vague rumours to go into the general diary without signature. Regulation 246 governs the distribution of the original FIR and its copies to the magistrate, the superintendent and the station, and regulation 279 deals with cases found to be false.[8]

Cognizable and non-cognizable offences

Everything turns on classification. Section 4(1)(f) of the Code defines a cognizable offence as one for which a police officer may, under the Second Schedule or any other law in force, arrest without warrant. Section 4(1)(n) defines a non-cognizable offence as one for which a police officer may not arrest without warrant.[1] The Second Schedule lists every Penal Code offence with a column stating whether it is cognizable, and special statutes say so for their own offences.

Typical examples

Murder, rape, robbery, theft, kidnapping and assault are commonly cited as cognizable offences. Cheating, defamation, criminal misappropriation and voluntarily causing hurt are commonly cited as non-cognizable.[8] The precise section matters: within one family of offences, the simple form may be non-cognizable while an aggravated form is cognizable. Read the Second Schedule entry for the exact section before you decide which record to seek.

Why classification drives the GD vs FIR Bangladesh choice

If the facts disclose a cognizable offence, section 154 applies and the officer must record an FIR. If they disclose only a non-cognizable offence, section 155 applies and the correct record is an entry with referral to the magistrate.[2] Where the facts disclose both, as in a quarrel that ends in a theft, the cognizable element governs and an FIR should be recorded. An experienced lawyer frames the written information so that the classification is clear on its face.

Special laws

Some special statutes create their own procedure, require a complaint rather than a police report, or route cases to a tribunal. Cheque dishonour, for example, proceeds by complaint before a magistrate rather than by FIR, a process explained in our cheque dishonour guide. Always check whether the governing statute displaces the ordinary rules of the Code.

The General Diary at a police station

The general diary is the police station's running log. Station administration, arms counts, departures and returns of officers and telephone messages are all noted in it, alongside entries made on information from the public.[8] For citizens, the GD is used to report a lost or stolen document, a missing person, a threat that has not yet led to harm, a minor traffic incident or a family dispute, and to record non-cognizable allegations.[7] All FIRs should also be entered in the GD register, though not every GD entry leads to an FIR or police action.[8]

What a GD should contain

A useful GD states the date, time and place of the incident, a short factual description of what happened, and the applicant's name, address and contact details.[7] For a lost document, add its number, issue date and issuing authority. For a threat, record the exact words used, who said them, how they were delivered and who witnessed them. Keep it factual and short; a GD is not the place for argument.

Filing in person

Go to the police station with jurisdiction over the place of the incident and ask the duty officer to record a GD. Submit a signed written application, preferably with a duplicate. Once recorded, the GD receives an entry number, and you should leave with a copy bearing that number, the officer's signature and the station seal.[7] Check the number and date before you leave, because the copy is what other authorities will ask to see.

Arrests are now recorded in the GD

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2026, passed by Parliament in April 2026, requires every arrest to be recorded immediately in the local police station's general diary. Where the arresting officer belongs to another station, a copy of the arrest memorandum must go to the local officer in charge, who ensures the entry is made.[6] For families trying to trace a detained relative, the GD entry is now a key document.

Obstacles in practice

The reality at some stations falls short of the law. A Home Affairs Ministry circular in August 2024 acknowledged that police were delaying or refusing to record cases and GDs, and reports have described demands for money at the filing stage.[7] The Online GD service was introduced partly to address this. If you face obstruction at the desk, a written application with a received stamp, or an online filing with a reference number, creates the record that a verbal request does not.

Online GD in 2026: how the platform works

Bangladesh Police introduced online GD filing in June 2022, initially limited to lost and found items, through the Online GD mobile application.[7] During 2025 the service was extended range by range to cover every type of GD, and on 24 September 2025 Police Headquarters announced that all types of online GD would be available at all police stations across the country from the following Thursday.[10] The platform is the Online GD app on the Google Play Store, and a 24-hour hotline, 01320001428, assists with registration and filing.[10]

Registration and filing

Registration is a one-time step. You need your National Identity Card number, an active mobile number and a live photograph taken through the app.[11] You then submit the GD, check its status, communicate with the investigating officer and download or share a digital copy. If the police accept the matter as a GD, you receive a digital copy showing the GD number and the investigating officer's details.[11]

When an online GD becomes a criminal case

The app is a GD channel, not an online FIR system. If the police assess that the matter requires a criminal case, you must attend the police station with a printed copy of the complaint or its code number.[11] For a cognizable offence, go to the station from the start: the FIR must be signed by the informant under section 154, and delay will be used against the prosecution.[2]

Practical limits

The service has had technical difficulties. In May 2024 users reported slow responses, OTP failures and failed registrations, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that GDs not lodged online would be taken manually.[7] Paper filing at the station remains available. Take screenshots of every submission and acknowledgement in case the record needs to be proved later.

GD for lost documents: passports, NID and certificates

For lost documents the GD vs FIR Bangladesh question rarely arises: the GD is the correct record. It is the single most common use of a GD. Banks, universities, licensing authorities and foreign missions routinely ask for a GD copy before they issue a duplicate. Losing an identity card, passport, cheque book, licence or educational certificate usually calls for a GD, which makes replacement easier.[7] The rules, however, now differ by document.

Lost passports under the September 2026 rules

A Home Ministry directive effective 21 September 2026 tightened the reissue of lost, stolen or damaged passports. The holder must report the loss online through the Department of Immigration and Passports and file a GD at the nearest police station immediately. Police must verify the GD and report within 72 hours; if no report arrives in that time, the applicant may proceed with a copy of the GD after a Lost Circular is issued.[12]

A first loss carries no penalty beyond the prescribed fee, but a second loss attracts an additional Tk 10,000. The reissued passport is marked "Previous Passport is Reported to be Lost", and the name, parents' names and date of birth cannot be changed through reissue. A passport found after being reported lost cannot be used for travel and must be handed in.[12] Losses abroad are reported to the Bangladesh mission, which issues the Lost Circular.[12] A false lost-passport GD now carries a real risk of exposure.

National identity cards

On 4 September 2025 the Election Commission announced that a GD is no longer required to obtain a replacement for a lost National Identity Card.[13] Check the National Identity Registration Wing's current procedure before applying, but do not assume that a GD is needed for an NID.

Other documents

For certificates, licences, title deeds, cheque books and share certificates, the issuing body sets its own requirements, and most still ask for a GD. Include the document number and any serial or folio numbers in the GD, because a GD that says only "my papers" will often be rejected. If a lost document could be misused, such as a signed cheque leaf or an original title deed, record that risk in the GD and notify the bank or registry the same day.

Non-cognizable cases: from GD to magistrate's order

For a non-cognizable offence, the general diary entry is only the first step. The officer refers the informant to the magistrate, and the police can investigate only after a first or second class magistrate with power to try the case orders it.[2] In practice, the police may forward the matter to the magistrate seeking permission to investigate, or the informant may file a petition. Once permission is granted, the police investigate with full powers except arrest without warrant.[2]

Is there an NCR in Bangladesh?

The phrase "non-cognizable report" or NCR is borrowed from practice in some Indian states, where police issue a numbered report for non-cognizable complaints. Bangladesh has no separate statutory form with that name. The equivalent is the section 155 entry in the station's book, usually recorded as a GD, followed by an application to the magistrate.[2] [8] People searching for an NCR in Bangladesh are usually looking for this GD and permission process.

When a complaint petition is quicker

Because a non-cognizable GD depends on a magistrate's order anyway, many complainants go directly to the magistrate with a complaint petition. This gives judicial control from the outset and avoids waiting for the police to forward the file. For defamation and many commercial disputes, the complaint route is the norm rather than the exception.

When the police refuse an FIR

Refusal is where the GD vs FIR Bangladesh distinction matters most, because some stations offer a GD when the law requires an FIR. Refusal to record an FIR for a cognizable offence is unlawful.

In Naripokkho v Bangladesh (Writ Petition No. 5541 of 2015, judgment of 18 February 2016), the High Court Division held that section 154 is unambiguous, that the officer in charge has an inviolable duty to register an FIR once the information discloses a cognizable offence, and that he cannot refuse because the occurrence was outside his jurisdiction.[9] The court found that a rape victim turned away from three police stations had been denied her rights under section 154 and issued binding guidelines requiring such information to be recorded without delay, irrespective of the place of occurrence.[9]

First steps at the station

Bring a written, signed account and ask for it to be recorded. If the officer refuses, ask for the refusal in writing or for your application to be received and stamped. The officer's job at this stage is to record, not to test the truth of the complaint, and the Code requires an officer who decides not to investigate under section 157 to state his reasons in his report and notify the informant.[2] [9] Escalate to the circle officer or the superintendent of police with a copy of your application.

Complaint petition to a magistrate under section 200

The most reliable remedy is to bypass the police. A magistrate may take cognizance of an offence on a complaint of facts constituting it under section 190(1)(a).[1] Under section 200, the magistrate examines the complainant on oath, may examine any witnesses present, and records the examination, which is signed by the complainant, the witnesses and the magistrate.[3] A complaint does not depend on the police at all; the Code defines it as an allegation made to a magistrate with a view to action, and excludes a police report.[1]

Inquiry, dismissal or process

After examining the complainant, the magistrate may postpone issuing process, giving written reasons, and either inquire personally or direct a subordinate magistrate, a police officer or another person to inquire or investigate whether the complaint is true.[4] A magistrate empowered under section 190 may also order the police to investigate a cognizable case under section 156(3).[2] If the material does not justify proceeding, the complaint is dismissed under section 203; if it does, process issues against the accused under section 204.[1]

Constitutional remedies

Where refusal is systematic or tied to a serious rights violation, a writ petition to the High Court Division is available, as Naripokkho shows.[9] A writ is slower and more expensive than a complaint petition, so it is usually reserved for cases of public importance or continuing failure. Our writ petition guide explains that route.

Evidential value in the GD vs FIR Bangladesh comparison

Neither record proves the truth of what it says. An FIR is the informant's earliest account, and Bangladeshi courts treat it as a prior statement of the informant rather than substantive evidence of guilt. Under section 157 of the Evidence Act 1872, a witness's earlier statement made at or about the time of the fact, or before an authority legally competent to investigate it, may be proved to corroborate later testimony. Under section 145, the defence may cross-examine a witness on a previous written statement and, after drawing attention to the relevant parts, use it to contradict him.[5]

Why the wording of the FIR matters

Because the FIR can be used to contradict the informant, every omission and every inconsistency with later evidence becomes a line of cross-examination. Names missing from the FIR, a different time of occurrence, or a weapon not mentioned all weaken the prosecution. The FIR should be accurate rather than long: who, what, when, where, and who saw it. Unexplained delay is equally damaging, so record the reason for any delay in the FIR itself.[8]

The GD as a public record

A GD entry is an official record made by a public servant in the discharge of duty. Section 35 of the Evidence Act makes an entry in a public or official register, including a digital record, a relevant fact when it states a fact in issue or a relevant fact and is made by a public servant in performing his duty.[5] A GD therefore proves that a report was made, when and in what terms. It does not prove that the facts reported are true.

Strategic uses of a GD

Because a GD fixes a date, it is valuable when a dispute may later become a criminal case. A GD recording a threat, a demand for money or the loss of a signed cheque can rebut a later claim that the complaint was an afterthought. It can also support an application for anticipatory bail where the applicant fears a fabricated case, as discussed in our anticipatory bail guide.

False GDs, false FIRs and their consequences

Both records carry legal risk for anyone who uses them dishonestly. Giving false information to the police, falsely charging someone with an offence, and fabricating evidence are offences under the Penal Code, and regulation 279 of the PRB allows police who find a case maliciously false to report it for prosecution of the informant.[8] A GD claiming that a passport was lost when it is held by an agent is now checked against police verification within 72 hours.[12]

For anyone named in a false FIR, the response depends on the stage: anticipatory bail, release during investigation, discharge, or quashment under section 561A. Those remedies, and the routes to compensation and prosecution of the accuser, are covered in our guide to false accusations in Bangladesh. This article focuses on choosing and using the right record in the first place.

Who does what at each stage

Several officials touch a GD or an FIR, and knowing their roles helps you escalate effectively.

Step-by-step: choosing and filing the right record

The sequence below reflects how we approach the GD vs FIR Bangladesh decision for clients, from the first account of the facts to the escalation route if the station will not act.

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GD vs FIR Bangladesh compared side by side

The table sets out the main differences between a General Diary entry, an FIR, a non-cognizable referral and a complaint petition before a magistrate.[1] [2] [3]

Matching the record to the problem

Theft, robbery, assault, kidnapping or a sexual offence: FIR. Lost document, missing person, threat, minor incident: GD. Defamation, simple cheating or a commercial dispute with a criminal edge: usually a complaint petition. Cheque dishonour: complaint under the special statute. Where the police will not record a cognizable offence: complaint petition under section 200, with escalation to senior officers in parallel.

Mistakes to avoid

• Filing a GD for a serious crime. A GD describing a cognizable offence does not trigger investigation and creates an awkward record of delay.
• Exaggerating in the FIR. Every overstatement becomes a contradiction under section 145 of the Evidence Act once witnesses testify.[5]
• Leaving without a copy. Without the GD number or FIR number and date you cannot prove what you reported.
• Using the online app for an FIR. Online GD is not an FIR channel; a criminal case still requires attendance at the station.[11]
• Filing a convenient lost-document GD. Passport losses are now verified by police within 72 hours and repeat losses are penalised.[12]
• Waiting for the police indefinitely. If the station refuses, file a complaint petition promptly; the magistrate's court does not depend on police goodwill.[3]

What to watch in 2026

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2026 has turned the interim government's 2025 reforms into permanent law, including the requirement to record every arrest in the station's general diary.[6] Online GD now covers the whole country, and the September 2026 passport rules show agencies tying GDs to police verification rather than treating them as a formality.[10] [12]

Police oversight remains unsettled. The Police Commission Ordinance 2025 lapsed in April 2026 after Parliament did not act within the constitutional deadline, and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman have said new bills on policing reform will be drafted after further consultation.[14] For the GD vs FIR Bangladesh choice itself, the rules are stable: classify the offence, insist on the record the law requires, and keep the copy. Until an independent complaints body exists, the magistrate's court remains the practical check on a station that will not record a case.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main GD vs FIR Bangladesh difference?

An FIR records a cognizable offence under section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and leads to police investigation. A GD is an entry in the station's general diary that records a report or a non-cognizable allegation and does not by itself start a criminal case.[2] [7]

Can I file an FIR online in Bangladesh?

No. The Online GD app handles GDs. If the police decide a criminal case is needed, you must attend the station with a printed copy of the complaint or its code number.[11]

How do I file an online GD?

Download the Online GD app from the Google Play Store, complete a one-time registration with your NID number, an active mobile number and a live photograph, and submit the GD. A 24-hour hotline, 01320001428, assists with problems.[10] [11]

Is online GD available at every police station?

Yes. Police Headquarters announced in September 2025 that all types of online GD would be available at all police stations in the country.[10]

What can I do if the police refuse to record my FIR?

Escalate in writing to senior officers and file a complaint petition before the magistrate, who examines you on oath under section 200 and may direct an inquiry or police investigation.[3] [4] The High Court Division has held that recording an FIR for a cognizable offence is mandatory.[9]

Can the police investigate a non-cognizable offence reported in a GD?

Only with the order of a first or second class magistrate who has power to try the case or send it for trial. Even then, they cannot arrest without warrant.[2]

Do I need a GD for a lost passport?

Yes. Since 21 September 2026 you must report the loss online to the Department of Immigration and Passports and file a GD, which police verify within 72 hours. A second loss carries an additional Tk 10,000 penalty.[12]

Do I need a GD for a lost NID card?

No. The Election Commission announced on 4 September 2025 that a GD is no longer required to replace a lost National Identity Card.[13]

Is an FIR evidence in court?

It is not substantive proof of guilt. It can be used to corroborate the informant under section 157 of the Evidence Act or to contradict him under section 145.[5]

Is there an NCR in Bangladesh?

Not under that name. A non-cognizable report is entered in the station's book under section 155, usually as a GD, and the informant is referred to the magistrate.[2]