A writ petition under Article 102 of the Constitution asks the High Court Division to correct unlawful action, or inaction, by a ministry, regulator or other public body. This walk-through follows a typical filing, from briefing your advocate to deposit of requisites and a certified copy of the Rule Nisi. Use it when a public authority's decision affects you and no adequate alternative remedy exists.

Bring on the day: NID or passport, The order, notice or decision complained of (certified copy if available), Correspondence with the authority, Signed vokalatnama, Written authority if someone else will swear the affidavit, One full copy of the petition and annexures for each respondent (after the Rule)

1. Brief your advocate at the Bar

   Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)

   Most writs start with a meeting at or near the Supreme Court Bar Association building, where advocates have rooms and their clerks work. You hand over the decision you are challenging, preferably as a certified copy, together with letters and notices exchanged with the authority. The advocate checks whether a writ is the right remedy, who the respondents should be, and whether another remedy must be used first. You sign the vokalatnama. If you cannot attend later to swear the affidavit, a representative may do so only with the Court's permission, so settle this now.

   Tip: The HCD Rules require the original or a certified copy of the document complained of; a photocopy needs the Court's leave.

   Who: You + Your lawyerTime: 1-2 hours for the meeting; drafting takes days (indicative)Bring: NID or passportBring: Documents complained ofBring: Correspondence with the authorityYou get: Advocate's advice on the remedy and respondents

2. File the petition at the Writ Section

   Writ Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 2

   Your advocate's clerk takes the typed petition, annexures and vokalatnama to the Writ Section on the 2nd floor of Administrative Building 2. Under the HCD Rules a writ motion is filed with the Section, not with a bench. Section staff examine whether the papers are in order, for example the cause title, annexures and vokalatnama. If satisfied, they record it as a Writ Petition with a number and year, send it to the Commissioner of Affidavits for swearing, and give the clerk a slip showing the writ number so that the matter can be mentioned before a bench.

   Tip: Keep the number slip safe. Every later enquiry at the Section is made by writ number and year.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Same day if the papers are in order (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Typed petition with annexuresBring: VokalatnamaYou get: Slip showing the Writ Petition number and year

3. Swear the affidavit before the Commissioner

   Commissioner of Affidavits · Ground floor, Administrative Building 2

   The petitioner, or a representative the Court permits, goes in person to the Commissioner of Affidavits on the ground floor of Administrative Building 2. The Commissioner identifies the deponent, administers the oath or affirmation and signs. Under the HCD Rules the Commissioner must also be satisfied that the petition carries enough court-fee stamps, and certifies this. If the deponent cannot read the affidavit, it must be read and explained first. From the date of swearing, the writ must be mentioned before a bench within 30 days, or the affidavit expires and must be sworn again.

   Tip: Mark day 30 in your diary. A writ affidavit is valid for mentioning for only 30 days.

   Who: You + Court staffTime: Under an hour, depending on the queue (indicative)Fee: No fee for affidavits taken in the Court house (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 33)Bring: NID or passportBring: Written authority if swearing as a representativeYou get: Sworn affidavit forming part of the petition

4. Leave a copy at the AG's Office

   Office of the Attorney General

   Where a ministry, department or other public body is a respondent, the State is represented by the Attorney General's Office on the campus. In practice, the clerk leaves an advance copy of the petition and annexures there and asks for an endorsement or receipt, so that a Deputy or Assistant Attorney General can take instructions and appear when the petition is moved. The office's building is not published officially, so ask at the enquiry desk or the gate. This step reflects practice; no codified rule requiring advance service was found in the HCD Rules chapters checked.

   Tip: Ask the AG's Office which Deputy Attorney General is attached to the bench you plan to mention before.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerkTime: 1-2 hours (indicative)Bring: Complete copy of the petition and annexuresYou get: Receipt or endorsement of service

5. Mention the writ to the Bench Officer

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   Using the writ number, your advocate fills in a mention slip in the form set out in the HCD Rules: date, district, case number and year, parties, a brief purpose and the advocate's signature. During the mention hour of a bench with writ jurisdiction, the slip goes to that bench's Bench Officer, who adds a serial number, signs and dates it, and requisitions the file from the Writ Section before 3 p.m. The Section sends writ motions to the chosen bench on the first working day of the week; on other days the bench must accept the slip as urgent.

   Tip: A slip handed in late in the mention hour may miss the 3 p.m. file requisition and lose a day.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Minutes to file; listed the next working day or as the bench directs (indicative)Bring: Completed mention slipBring: Writ number slipYou get: Serial number from the Bench Officer

6. Attend the motion hearing

   High Court Division courtrooms in the Annex Building

   On the day, the matter appears in the bench's daily cause list with an item number. Find the court number and building, for example a court in the Annex Building, and be in the room before 10:30 a.m., when sittings normally begin. Your advocate moves the petition and a Deputy or Assistant Attorney General may respond for the Government. If the bench is satisfied, it issues a Rule Nisi calling on the respondents to show cause, fixes a return date, and may grant interim relief such as a stay. If not, it records that no Rule is issued.

   Tip: If the bench cannot reach all motions, the HCD Rules carry them to the next day's list as 'In Re' items.

   Who: You + Your lawyer + Court staffTime: A motion may be heard in minutes, but you may wait most of the day (indicative)Bring: Cause list entryBring: Case papersYou get: Rule Nisi with a return date, or a recorded refusal

7. Deposit requisites at the Writ Section

   Writ Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 2

   After a Rule Nisi issues, the petitioner must put in 'requisites' for service. Under the HCD Rules this means a legible copy of the whole petition and all annexures for every respondent, a notice with a pre-paid registered acknowledgement-due envelope for each, and the service fee in cash or court-fee stamps within three working days of the order unless the Court allows more time. Until requisites are furnished, the Writ Section will not issue notice of the Rule Nisi or deliver any copy of the order. The Section later places the file before the bench for the return date.

   Tip: Missing the requisites deadline sends the file back to the bench for orders. Do it the same week.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: service fee within 3 working days of the orderFee: Service fee in cash or court-fee stamps (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 13(2)); amount as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: One copy of the petition and annexures per respondentBring: Pre-paid registered AD envelopesBring: Service feeYou get: Entry or receipt for requisites deposited

8. Apply for a certified copy

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Once requisites are in, apply at the Central Copying Section on the ground floor of the Annex Building for a certified copy of the Rule Nisi order, for example to show the authority that a stay is in force. Complete Form No. 24 (Civil), stating whether the copy is urgent, and pay by stamp sheet, folio and court-fee stamp as the section estimates. An urgent copy costs an extra Tk 10 per page and should ordinarily be ready within 72 hours of depositing the estimate. An ordinary copy is due by 1 p.m. on the fifth day after deposit.

   Tip: You must produce the counterfoil to collect the copy, so keep it with the case papers.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: by 1 p.m. on the 5th day (ordinary) or within 72 hours (urgent) after depositFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Writ number and date of the orderBring: Court-fee stamps and folios as estimatedYou get: Counterfoil with the delivery dateYou get: Certified copy of the order

A certified copy is the official, sealed copy of a High Court Division judgment, order or record. You need one to appeal to the Appellate Division, to show a lower court or authority what was ordered, or to rely on it in another case. This walk-through covers the application form, the fees fixed by the HCD Rules, and collecting the copy.

Bring on the day: Case number and year, Date of the judgment or order, Form No. 24 (Civil), Money for court-fee stamps and folios, NID or passport

1. Get the copy application form

   Forms and Stationery Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 4

   An application for a certified copy must be made on Form No. 24 (Civil), Appendix I of the HCD Rules. The Forms and Stationery Section on the 2nd floor of Administrative Building 4 supplies prescribed forms, and the Rules price the copy form at Tk 4 per sheet. Your lawyer's clerk will usually have a stock, and the Supreme Court website has a Forms Download page. For a certified photostat copy, the form is No. 24A (Civil), which costs Tk 4 in court-fee stamp. Take the right form for the kind of copy you want.

   Tip: Ask your lawyer's clerk first; most keep blank copy forms.

   Who: You or Your lawyer's clerkTime: Minutes (indicative)Fee: Form No. 24 (Civil): Tk 4 per sheet (HCD Rules Ch. XIII r. 19); Form No. 24A: Tk 4 in court-fee stamp (r. 38(4))Bring: Small change for the formYou get: Blank Form No. 24 (Civil) or 24A (Civil)

2. Complete the form with full details

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Fill in the case type, number and year, the parties, the date of the judgment or order, and exactly which documents you want. The HCD Rules require you to say whether the copy is urgent, meaning wanted before three days, and which paper should be used: 100-gram offset legal-size paper or government stamp folios. If you are not a party, explain your interest. An urgent application carries an extra court fee of Tk 10 for each page of the copy, paid in court-fee stamps fixed to the application and entered in the court-fee register.

   Tip: If the description is wrong and the document cannot be traced, the application is sent to the Assistant Registrar for orders, which costs time.

   Who: You or Your lawyer's clerkTime: 15-30 minutes (indicative)Fee: Urgent copies: extra Tk 10 per page in court-fee stamps (HCD Rules Ch. XIII r. 15)Bring: Case number, parties and order date

3. File it at the Central Copying Section

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Hand the application to the Central Copying Section on the ground floor of the Annex Building. Ordinary applications are received on court days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; urgent ones at any time during office hours. The Superintendent works out the court-fee stamps and folios needed and notifies the amount, normally by the next day. The application is incomplete until you supply them, and it is rejected if you do not do so within seven days of notification. When you pay, the delivery date is written on your counterfoil. A Tk 5 search fee is added if the record is in the record room.

   Tip: Do not lose the counterfoil. The copy is handed over only against it.

   Who: You or Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: estimate by the next day; stamps and folios due within 7 days of noticeFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; Tk 5 search fee if the record is in the record room (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 9)Bring: Completed formBring: Court-fee stamps and folios as estimatedYou get: Counterfoil showing the date the copy will be ready

4. Ask the Registrar's leave if needed

   Registrar General and the High Court Division Registry offices · Ground floor, Main Building (Admin Section; General and Establishment Section)

   A party who has appeared may obtain copies of the record, and anyone may obtain a copy of a judgment, decree or order once it is made. A stranger needs more in two cases: before decree, the Registrar's permission for a sufficient reason; and for exhibits, the consent of the party who produced them. Your lawyer then writes a typed application on foolscap paper and presents it to the Registrar, not to a bench. The Registry's Admin Section is on the Main Building ground floor. If the Registrar refuses, the order can be appealed to the Lawazima Bench.

   Tip: Most parties never need this step. It matters if you were not a party, or if you want exhibits.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Days to weeks, depending on the Registrar's list (indicative)Fee: Appeal against a Registrar's order: Tk 20 court fee (HCD Rules Ch. II r. 2C); other fees as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Typed applicationBring: Proof of your interest in the caseYou get: Registrar's order on the application

5. Collect and check the certified copy

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Return to the Central Copying Section on the delivery date with your counterfoil. An ordinary copy should be ready by 1 p.m. on the fifth day after you put in the stamps and folios; an urgent copy normally within 72 hours. The Superintendent hands over the copy and any unused folios and takes your signature on the counterfoil. Check that every sheet is initialled by the Assistant Registrar, that the court seal is there, and that the last page carries the certificate 'Certified to be true copy' under s.76 of the Evidence Act, with the relevant dates recorded.

   Tip: Collect promptly. Under the Rules, copies not claimed by the end of the following month are destroyed.

   Who: You or Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: by 1 p.m. on the 5th day (ordinary) or within 72 hours (urgent)Bring: CounterfoilBring: NID or passportYou get: Certified copyYou get: Unused folios, if any

Before any hearing you need to know whether, where and when your case is listed. This walk-through covers checking the online cause list, Case Search and the cause-list app, confirming that the file is ready at the section, and asking a bench to list the matter with a mention slip. Use it when a case has gone quiet or you need an order.

Bring on the day: Case number and year, Your advocate's name, Mention slip prepared by your advocate, Phone with the website or cause-list app, NID or passport

1. Check the online cause list and app

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   Start online. The Supreme Court website publishes the High Court Division daily cause list by bench, a separate Appellate Division cause list, and a Case Search page. A cause-list app has been available since 2020, first on Google Play and later on Apple's App Store, with advanced search and bookmarking of cases. Search by case number and year or by your advocate's name. Note the bench, item number, court number and, importantly, the building: Main, Annex, Bijoy 71 or Old Building. If the matter is not listed, it has not been fixed, and you need the next steps.

   Tip: Court numbers repeat across buildings. 'Court 5' in the Annex is a different room from 'Court 5' in Bijoy 71.

   Who: You or Your lawyerTime: 10-20 minutes (indicative)Bring: Case number and yearYou get: Court number, building and item number

2. Find the bench with jurisdiction

   Bench Section · Ground floor, Administrative Building 4

   If your matter is not listed, find out which bench now deals with your class of case. The Chief Justice reconstitutes the benches from time to time, and the current bench list, showing judges, courtrooms and jurisdiction, is published under 'About Bench' in the Notices section of the Supreme Court website. The Bench Section is on the ground floor of Administrative Building 4, but its public-facing role is not described officially, so your advocate or the Bench Officer of a likely bench is the better person to confirm. Check again after vacations, when jurisdictions often change.

   Tip: Use only the latest bench list. Older lists stay on the website and are easy to confuse.

   Who: Your lawyerTime: Under an hour (indicative)Bring: Case type and numberYou get: Name of the bench and its courtroom

3. Confirm the file is ready

   Civil Rule and Revision sections (regional Rule sections) · Ground floor, Administrative Building 4 (Rule, Dhaka-Mymensingh); ground floor, Administrative Building 3 (Rule, Rajshahi-Rangpur); other Rule sections not mapped

   Your lawyer's clerk visits the section that keeps the file, for example the regional Rule section for a civil revision: Rule (Dhaka-Mymensingh) on the ground floor of Administrative Building 4, or Rule (Rajshahi-Rangpur) on the ground floor of Administrative Building 3. Section staff check the register and the file. The clerk confirms that requisites were deposited, that notice has been served or service declared, and that any paper book is ready. The HCD Rules say office rooms are not open to the public, so a litigant normally relies on the clerk or a written application.

   Tip: If notice went by registered post more than 30 days ago and no acknowledgement came back, ask whether service can be declared under the Rules.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Same day (indicative)Bring: Case number and yearYou get: Clerk's report on the file

4. Hand in a mention slip

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   To bring the case into the daily cause list for an order, the HCD Rules provide a mention slip. Your advocate completes the prescribed form (date, district, case number, parties, purpose in brief and signature) and files it with the Bench Officer during that bench's mention hour. The Bench Officer adds a serial number, signature and date, sends a requisition for the file to the section before 3 p.m., and arranges for the case to appear in the list among mentioned matters. Any application in a pending case must be filed with the Bench Officer at least 24 hours before the sitting.

   Tip: Serve any affidavit on the other side at least 24 hours before the hearing, or the bench may decline to read it.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Rule: file requisitioned before 3 p.m.; usually listed the next working day (indicative)Bring: Completed mention slipBring: Any application with its affidavitYou get: Serial number on the slip

5. Attend court on the listed day

   Bijoy 71 (Bijoy Ekattor) Building courtrooms · 3rd-10th floors, Bijoy 71 Building (Courts 1-4 on the 3rd up to Courts 29-32 on the 10th)

   Check the morning's list to confirm the item appears, then go to the room shown. For example, according to the Supreme Court's locator, Bijoy 71 Building Courts 1-4 are on the 3rd floor and Courts 29-32 on the 10th. Sittings normally run from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with a break from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. Wait in or near the courtroom for your item, keep your phone silent and stay in touch with your advocate's clerk, because matters can be called earlier than expected or carried over to another day.

   Tip: Lifts can be busy just before 10:30 a.m.; arrive early or allow time for the stairs.

   Who: You + Your lawyerTime: Half a day to a full day (indicative)Bring: Cause list entryBring: NID or passportYou get: The bench's order (copy later from the Copying Section)

When a Sessions Judge or tribunal passes a death sentence, it cannot be carried out until the High Court Division confirms it. The case comes up as a 'death reference' and is usually heard with the convict's appeals. This walk-through explains the stages for families and lawyers, from registration and the paper book to the hearing and any further appeal to the Appellate Division.

Bring on the day: Trial court case number and date of judgment, Death Reference number, Connected criminal appeal and jail appeal numbers, Copy of the trial court judgment, NID or passport

1. The reference is registered

   Death Reference Section

   After a Sessions Judge or tribunal passes a death sentence, the proceedings must be submitted to the High Court Division under s.374 CrPC, and the sentence cannot be executed until the High Court confirms it. The Death Reference Section registers the reference and gives it a Death Reference number, which families and lawyers then quote in every enquiry. The Supreme Court's location list names this section but publishes no map for it, so ask at the enquiry desk; a separate 'Reference Section' is mapped on the Old Building ground floor, but its relationship to this section was not confirmed.

   Tip: The Supreme Court website publishes a separate death-reference cause list; check it as well as the ordinary list.

   Who: Court staff + Your lawyerTime: Depends on the trial court sending the record (indicative)Bring: Trial court case number and judgment dateYou get: Death Reference number

2. Link the convict's appeals

   Jail Appeal Section

   The convict usually also appeals, either through a lawyer, where the appeal is filed and kept by the Criminal Appeal Section, or through the jail under s.420 CrPC, where the officer in charge forwards the petition and the Jail Appeal Section registers it. The sections link these appeals to the death reference so that all are heard together. Families should ask the jail for the jail appeal number and give it, with the Death Reference number, to the lawyer or the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office, so that nothing is heard separately or overlooked.

   Tip: If there is no private lawyer, contact the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office early.

   Who: You + Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Weeks, depending on the jail and the section (indicative)Bring: Death Reference numberBring: Jail appeal number, if anyYou get: Jail appeal or criminal appeal number

3. Track the paper book

   Paper Book Section · Ground floor, Old Building

   A death reference cannot be heard until the paper book is ready. It is the compiled record used by the judges and lawyers: FIR, charge sheet, depositions, exhibits and the trial judgment. The Paper Book Section on the ground floor of the Old Building, beside the High Court mazar mosque, manages it under Chapter IX of the HCD Rules. In a 2026 case the paper book was printed at the government BG Press and checked before listing. Lawyers' clerks enquire at the section by Death Reference number to learn whether it has been received, verified and distributed.

   Tip: Ask about the paper book early. It is the most common reason a reference waits.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Often months (indicative)Fee: Paper-book cost as estimated under HCD Rules Ch. IX; your lawyer will confirmBring: Death Reference numberYou get: Paper-book statusYou get: Copy of the paper book for the lawyer

4. Make sure the convict is represented

   Solicitor Wing (Law and Justice Division)

   Every convict should have a lawyer at the hearing. If one has no lawyer, the High Court can direct the State to provide one. In June 2026 the High Court directed the Solicitor Wing of the Law and Justice Division to appoint a state defence counsel experienced in criminal law for convicts in a death reference. The Solicitor Wing acts on court orders rather than walk-in visits, so families who cannot afford a lawyer should also contact the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office, which lists jail appeals and criminal appeals among the matters it supports.

   Tip: Ask for the appointed lawyer's name and number so the family can pass on information.

   Who: Court staff + Your lawyerTime: Depends on the court's direction (indicative)Bring: Copy of the court's order, if anyYou get: Name of the appointed state defence counsel

5. The State's case is presented

   Office of the Attorney General

   A Deputy or Assistant Attorney General from the Attorney General's Office presents the State's case at the hearing. The law officer goes through the evidence in the paper book and argues whether the death sentence should be confirmed. The court can confirm the sentence, pass another sentence, order a further inquiry or additional evidence, or acquit. Defence lawyers usually speak to the law officer before the hearing about the paper book and timing. The AG's Office building is not published officially, so ask at the enquiry desk if you need to find it.

   Tip: Families can follow the hearing from the courtroom; ask the lawyer which days matter most.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Hearings can run over several days (indicative)Bring: Paper bookBring: Notes on the evidence

6. Hearing before a special bench

   High Court Division courtrooms in the Main Building

   A Division Bench constituted by the Chief Justice for death references hears the reference together with the appeals. Benches sit in the Main Building and the other court buildings, so check the court number and building in the death-reference cause list. Sittings normally start at 10:30 a.m. The bench may confirm the sentence, pass another sentence, or annul the conviction. Under s.377 CrPC a confirming order must be made and signed by at least two judges. The judgment is signed afterwards and the file returns to the section.

   Tip: Apply for the certified copy as soon as judgment is given; any leave petition runs from the judgment date.

   Who: You + Your lawyer + Court staffTime: One or more hearing days (indicative)Bring: Cause list entryBring: NID or passportYou get: Judgment of the High Court Division (certified copy applied for separately)

7. Further appeal to the Appellate Division

   Appellate Division Registry (filing of leave petitions and appeals)

   The losing side may take the case to the Appellate Division. Under the AD Rules a criminal petition for leave to appeal is filed within 30 days of the High Court judgment, and the Attorney-General or another law officer has 60 days to seek leave against an acquittal. An Advocate-on-Record files the petition in the Appellate Division Registry with a certified copy of the judgment. The Registry's building is not published officially, so ask at the enquiry desk. If no further appeal is brought, the judgment and record go back to the trial court.

   Tip: Do not wait for the copy before instructing a lawyer; the time runs from the judgment date.

   Who: Your lawyerTime: Rule: 30 days for a criminal leave petition (60 days for the State against an acquittal)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Certified copy of the High Court judgmentBring: VokalatnamaYou get: Leave petition number

If a lower court refuses bail, the accused can apply to the High Court Division under s.498 CrPC. This walk-through follows the usual route: obtaining the lower court's order, swearing the affidavit, filing in the criminal sections, serving the State, the hearing before a Division Bench, and making sure the bail order reaches the lower court so that the accused is released.

Bring on the day: Certified copy of the lower court's order refusing bail, Copies of the FIR or complaint and any charge sheet, Medical or custody papers relied on, Tadbirkar's NID, Signed vokalatnama

1. Collect the lower court papers

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Before anything is filed, obtain a certified copy of the lower court's order refusing bail from that court's own copying department, not from the Supreme Court. The HCD Rules require a criminal motion to be accompanied by a certified copy of the order challenged, and by certified copies of any other orders relied on, or attested photocopies with the Court's leave. Gather copies of the FIR or complaint, any charge sheet, and medical or custody papers. If you later need copies of High Court orders, the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor issues them.

   Tip: A legible, complete set of papers avoids the bench adjourning for documents.

   Who: You + Your lawyer's clerkTime: Days, depending on the lower court (indicative)Bring: Lower court case numberBring: Accused's detailsYou get: Certified copy of the bail-refusal order

2. Swear the supporting affidavit

   Commissioner of Affidavits · Ground floor, Administrative Building 2

   A bail application under s.498 CrPC is a criminal motion and must be supported by an affidavit. Under the HCD Rules it may be sworn by the applicant or by a tadbirkar, often a family member who follows the case. The deponent goes in person to the Commissioner of Affidavits on the ground floor of Administrative Building 2, is identified, swears or affirms and signs. The Commissioner certifies the stamping. The motion must then be filed with the Bench Officer within 45 days of swearing, after which the affidavit expires.

   Tip: The 45-day validity does not extend any limitation period.

   Who: You + Court staffTime: Under an hour (indicative)Fee: No fee for affidavits taken in the Court house (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 33)Bring: Tadbirkar's NIDBring: The bail application with affidavitYou get: Sworn affidavit

3. File in the criminal sections

   Filing Section (Criminal) · Ground floor, Administrative Building 2

   Your lawyer's clerk files the application, with affidavit and annexures, at the Filing Section (Criminal) on the ground floor of Administrative Building 2, or as the section directs, since its exact intake rules are not published. The matter is registered as a Criminal Miscellaneous case and the file is kept in the Criminal Miscellaneous Section on the fourth floor of the Annex Building. Write down the Criminal Miscellaneous number: every later enquiry, the order and the copy application all use it.

   Tip: Ask the clerk to text you the case number as soon as it is given.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Same day (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Application with affidavitBring: Certified copy of the lower court orderBring: VokalatnamaYou get: Criminal Miscellaneous case number

4. Serve a copy on the State

   Office of the Attorney General

   The State is represented in High Court criminal matters by the Attorney General's Office. In practice, a copy of the bail application is served on the AG's Office so that the Deputy or Assistant Attorney General attached to the bench can take instructions. At the hearing the law officer may oppose bail or ask for time to obtain instructions, for example a report from the police. The AG's Office building is not published officially, so ask at the enquiry desk or the gate. Keep the endorsement of service on your copy.

   Tip: Unserved applications are often adjourned. Serve before the matter is mentioned.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerkTime: 1-2 hours (indicative)Bring: Copy of the application and annexuresYou get: Endorsement of service

5. Move the bail before a Division Bench

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   Your advocate files the motion with the Bench Officer of a bench with criminal miscellaneous jurisdiction. Criminal motions are normally filed on the first working day of the week, or on another day with the bench's leave if urgent. The Bench Officer gives it a serial number and tells the clerk. Under the HCD Rules a s.498 bail application must be heard by a Division Bench of two judges, not a Single Bench. At the hearing the bench may grant bail, refuse it, or issue a Rule and ask for the lower court record or a report.

   Tip: Check the bench list first; filing before the wrong bench wastes days.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Hearing within days of filing, depending on the list (indicative)Bring: Motion with affidavitBring: Mention slip if neededYou get: Serial numberYou get: Bench's order on bail

6. Send the bail order down

   Bail Confirmation Center · 3rd floor, Annex Building

   If bail is granted, the order is signed and goes back through the section, and the lower court releases the accused once it accepts the bail bond. The Bail Confirmation Center is on the third floor of the Annex Building, and the website links to an online bail-confirmation service. Their names indicate that they let lower courts and others confirm that a High Court bail order is genuine, but detailed procedures are not published. Ask your lawyer how the order will reach the lower court, and apply for a certified copy if needed.

   Tip: Check that names and case numbers in the order match the lower court record exactly.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Days, depending on communication to the lower court (indicative)Bring: Criminal Miscellaneous numberBring: Date of the bail orderBring: Accused's name exactly as in the orderYou get: Confirmation of the bail orderYou get: Release after the lower court accepts the bond

A party who loses in the High Court Division can ask the Appellate Division for leave to appeal, and in urgent cases ask the Chamber Judge for a stay or bail in the meantime. This walk-through covers the certified copy, the AD time limits, filing through an Advocate-on-Record, the Chamber Court and attending the hearing with a digital entry pass.

Bring on the day: Certified copy of the High Court Division judgment, Vokalatnama for an Advocate-on-Record, NID or passport, Digital entry pass for the courtroom

1. Get the certified copy urgently

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Apply at once at the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor for a certified copy of the High Court Division judgment, marking the application urgent. An urgent copy costs an extra Tk 10 per page and should ordinarily be ready within 72 hours of depositing the estimated stamps and folios. Under the AD Rules a civil leave petition must be filed within 60 days and a criminal leave petition within 30 days, counted from the date of the High Court judgment. Brief an Advocate-on-Record while you wait for the copy.

   Tip: Diary the 60-day or 30-day deadline from the judgment date, not the copy date.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: within 72 hours of deposit for an urgent copyFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Case number and judgment dateBring: Court-fee stamps and foliosYou get: Certified copy of the judgment

2. File the leave petition

   Appellate Division Registry (filing of leave petitions and appeals)

   An Advocate-on-Record files the civil or criminal petition for leave to appeal (CPLA or CrlPLA) in the Appellate Division Registry, with the grounds, the certified copy of the judgment and the court fee. The AD Registrar can deal with many procedural matters, such as substitution and calling for records. Under the AD Rules text the offices open on week days from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and non-urgent matters are not received in the last hour, subject to the Chief Justice's orders, so check current hours. The Registry's building is not published officially; ask at the enquiry desk.

   Tip: File early in the day; the AD Rules text says non-urgent matters are not received in the last office hour.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Rule: civil 60 days, criminal 30 days from the judgmentFee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Certified copy of the judgmentBring: VokalatnamaYou get: Leave petition number

3. Seek a stay from the Chamber Judge

   Chamber Court (Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division) · 2nd floor, Main Building

   If you need urgent interim relief, such as a stay of the High Court order or bail pending the leave petition, your Advocate-on-Record files an application before the Chamber Judge. The Chamber Court is on the 2nd floor of the Main Building. Under Order V of the AD Rules the Chamber Judge can deal with stays, bail and other listed matters. The Chamber Judge may grant interim relief, make 'no order', or send the matter to the regular bench. A bench of at least three judges can reconsider the Chamber Judge's order.

   Tip: Plan for a further hearing; referral to the regular bench is common.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Often heard within days if urgent (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Stay or bail application with affidavitBring: Leave petition numberYou get: Chamber Judge's order

4. Book the digital entry pass

   Entry gates, ID checks and conduct on campus

   Since 1 February 2023 litigants need a digital entry pass to go into an Appellate Division courtroom or the area next to it. Book it on the Supreme Court website the evening before, giving the entry date, case number, your name, mobile number and NID. Print the pass or keep a screenshot. On the day, enter the campus with your NID or passport, which security may ask to see under the August 2025 notice. Allow time for checks at the gate and tell security that you are going to the Main Building.

   Tip: Without the pass you may not be let into the Appellate Division courtroom.

   Who: YouTime: 15-30 minutes to book and pass security (indicative)Bring: NID or passportBring: Case numberBring: Mobile phoneYou get: Digital entry pass

5. Attend the leave hearing

   Appellate Division courtrooms (Courts 1, 2 and 3) · 2nd floor, Main Building

   The leave petition is heard in one of Courts 1, 2 and 3 on the 2nd floor of the Main Building. Leave petitions may be heard by two judges; appeals normally by at least three. Only your Advocate-on-Record or another advocate speaks for you. If leave is refused, the High Court judgment stands, subject to any review petition within 30 days. If leave is granted, the appeal follows the AD Rules on the record, statements of case and hearing, and the AD Registry will tell your advocate what is needed next.

   Tip: The AD courts are in the Main Building, not the Annex or Bijoy 71.

   Who: You + Your lawyerTime: Leave hearings are often short once called (indicative)Bring: Digital entry passBring: NID or passportBring: Cause list entryYou get: Order granting or refusing leave

People who cannot afford a lawyer may get one free through the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office, opened in 2015 under the Legal Aid Services Act 2000. It supports appeals, revisions, jail appeals, writs and leave petitions to the Appellate Division. This walk-through covers finding the office, applying, the appointment of a panel lawyer and the filing that follows.

Bring on the day: NID or passport, Proof of income or vulnerability, Copies of the judgment to be challenged, Other case papers, Phone number for contact

1. Enter the campus and find the office

   Entry gates, ID checks and conduct on campus

   Enter the Supreme Court compound with your NID or passport, which security may ask to see under the August 2025 notice. The Supreme Court website does not say which building the Legal Aid Office is in, so ask security or the enquiry desk, or ring the Supreme Court contact numbers shown on its website before you travel. Go in office hours on a working day, not on a Friday or Saturday. If you have a deadline, such as an appeal period, say so as soon as you arrive.

   Tip: Ring the published contact numbers first; offices can move.

   Who: YouTime: 15-30 minutes for entry checks (indicative)Bring: NID or passportYou get: Directions to the office

2. Submit your application

   Supreme Court Legal Aid Office

   Submit a written application to the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office. Explain who you are, what judgment or order you want to challenge or defend, and why you cannot pay a lawyer. Attach proof of eligibility, such as income or vulnerability, and copies of the judgment and other case papers. The office's web page lists help with first appeals and civil revisions, criminal appeals and revisions, jail appeals, writ petitions and leave petitions to the Appellate Division, as well as legal advice and an opinion on merit.

   Tip: Bring certified copies if you have them; the panel lawyer will need them.

   Who: You + Court staffTime: About an hour (indicative)Fee: Free for eligible applicantsBring: ApplicationBring: Proof of eligibilityBring: Case papersYou get: Receipt or reference for your application

3. A panel lawyer is appointed

   Supreme Court Legal Aid Office

   The office reviews the application. If it is accepted, a panel advocate from the Supreme Court legal aid panel is appointed free of charge to you, and the Government pays the lawyer's honorarium directly. The office may also meet actual costs of the case. The Chief Legal Aid Officer, a judicial officer, heads the office. Ask for the panel lawyer's name and phone number and arrange to meet. Tell the lawyer about any deadline at once, because the legal aid process does not stop a limitation period running.

   Tip: Do not pay anyone who claims they can speed up a legal aid application.

   Who: Court staff + Your lawyerTime: Days to weeks (indicative)Fee: Free; the Government pays the panel lawyer directlyBring: Phone number for contactYou get: Name and contact of the panel lawyer

4. The lawyer obtains certified copies

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   The panel lawyer checks which certified copies are needed and obtains any that are missing. Copies of High Court Division judgments and orders come from the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor, on Form No. 24 (Civil). Copies of lower court judgments come from those courts' copying departments. The lawyer also checks the limitation period and, where needed, asks for an urgent copy, which the Rules say should ordinarily be ready within 72 hours of depositing the estimated stamps and folios.

   Tip: Ask the Legal Aid Office whether it will meet copying costs as part of actual costs.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: About a week for an ordinary copy (indicative)Fee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Copies already obtainedYou get: Certified copies needed for filing

5. The case is filed and conducted

   Criminal Appeal Section · 3rd floor, Administrative Building 3

   The panel lawyer files the case at the right section, for example a criminal appeal at the Criminal Appeal Section on the 3rd floor of Administrative Building 3, and conducts it at the hearing. The section registers the appeal, calls for the lower court record if ordered, and places it for hearing when ready. Keep in touch with the lawyer, note the case number, and check the online cause list. If the client is in jail, also tell the lawyer about any jail appeal, so that the two are linked.

   Tip: Ask the lawyer to tell you after each hearing what happened and what comes next.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Registration within days; hearing later (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Case papersYou get: Case numberYou get: Hearing dates

After the High Court issues a Rule Nisi in a writ, the respondents must be served before the case can be heard. Under the HCD Rules the petitioner supplies copies, envelopes and the service fee. Where a ministry or public body is a respondent, the Attorney General's Office acts for it. This walk-through covers each step from the order to a hearing after the return date.

Bring on the day: Writ Petition number and the Rule Nisi order, One full copy of the petition and annexures for each respondent, Correct addresses of every respondent, Pre-paid registered acknowledgement-due envelopes, Money for the service fee

1. Note the Rule and its directions

   High Court Division courtrooms in the Annex Building

   When the bench issues a Rule Nisi, the order names the respondents, fixes a specific return date for service, and directs the petitioner to put in requisites within a set time. Your advocate notes these from the bench and checks the signed order when the file returns to the Writ Section. Under the HCD Rules the service fee must be paid within three working days of the order unless the Court extends the time. Diary both the requisites deadline and the return date straight after the hearing.

   Tip: Check the respondents' addresses now; a wrong address means service fails.

   Who: Your lawyerTime: Same day (indicative)Bring: Copy of the petition with the cause titleYou get: Note of the order and deadlines

2. Pay the service fee

   Writ Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 2

   Your lawyer's clerk goes to the Writ Section on the 2nd floor of Administrative Building 2 and pays the fee for service of notice of the Rule Nisi, in cash or court-fee stamps. The HCD Rules give three working days from the order, unless the Court directs otherwise. The section staff record the payment against the writ number. Ask for the payment to be noted on the file and keep any receipt, because without it the section will not send out notices or release copies of the order.

   Tip: If you cannot meet the deadline, ask the bench for more time before it runs out.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: within 3 working days of the orderFee: Service fee in cash or court-fee stamps (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 13(2)); amount as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Writ numberBring: Service feeYou get: Receipt or file entry for the fee

3. Lodge copies and registered envelopes

   Writ Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 2

   At the same Section, deposit one legible copy of the entire writ petition and all its annexures for each respondent on whom the Rule is issued. For each respondent also file a copy of the notice and a pre-paid registered acknowledgement-due envelope large enough for the notice, petition and annexures, with the full and correct address. The Registry sends these by registered post at the same time as ordinary service. Until all of this is furnished, the Writ Section must not issue the notice or any copy of the order.

   Tip: Typed or printed copies are required where the Rules ask for legibility; avoid faint photocopies.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: 1-2 hours at the section (indicative)Fee: Postage for registered post with acknowledgement due; amount at post office ratesBring: Copies of the petition and annexuresBring: Pre-paid registered AD envelopesBring: Notice copiesYou get: Note of requisites deposited

4. Serve a copy on the AG's Office

   Office of the Attorney General

   Ministries and public bodies are represented in the High Court Division by the Attorney General's Office. In practice, lawyers also deliver a copy of the Rule Nisi order, petition and annexures to the AG's Office so that the Deputy or Assistant Attorney General attached to the bench can obtain instructions and an affidavit-in-opposition from the ministry. Ask for an endorsement or receipt on your own copy. The office's building is not published officially, so ask at the enquiry desk or the gate.

   Tip: Keep the endorsed copy; the bench may ask whether the State was served.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerkTime: 1-2 hours (indicative)Bring: Copy of the order, petition and annexuresYou get: Endorsement or receipt of service

5. Check the service returns

   Writ Section · 2nd floor, Administrative Building 2

   Service is proved by the returns. When an acknowledgement signed by the respondent or an agent comes back, or the post office endorses that delivery was refused, the Registry records a declaration that notice has been served. If the notice was properly addressed and sent by registered post, the Registry may make that declaration even if no acknowledgement has come back within thirty days of posting. Your lawyer's clerk checks the file at the Writ Section for these returns and the declaration as the return date approaches.

   Tip: In writ matters the Court may dispense with a mode of service; ask your advocate if one respondent cannot be reached.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: declaration possible after 30 days without an acknowledgementBring: Writ numberYou get: Record of service on each respondent

6. Get a certified copy for the authority

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   With requisites in, you can obtain a certified copy of the Rule Nisi order and any stay from the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor. A certified copy is useful to show the authority that an interim order is in force. Apply on Form No. 24 (Civil), marking it urgent if needed. Before requisites are furnished, the Rules bar the Section and other departments from issuing any copy of the order or any consequential order such as a stay or status quo.

   Tip: Send the certified copy to the authority by a method that gives you proof of delivery.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: within 72 hours (urgent) or by the 5th day (ordinary) after depositFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Writ number and order dateBring: Court-fee stamps and foliosYou get: Certified copy of the order

7. Get it listed after the return date

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   Whether or not every service report has come in, the Writ Section must place the matter before the bench that issued the Rule, or an appropriate bench, around the return date, and record a note on service within 15 days for orders. Your advocate then watches the cause list. If the matter does not appear, a mention slip can be filed with the Bench Officer during the mention hour, who requisitions the file before 3 p.m. Once service is complete and affidavits are exchanged, the Rule can be heard.

   Tip: Ask the Deputy Attorney General whether the ministry will file an affidavit-in-opposition, to avoid surprise adjournments.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Rule: section notes service within 15 days of the return dateBring: Mention slipBring: Writ numberYou get: Listing for orders or hearing

Company matters, such as winding up, schemes or rectification, and admiralty suits are heard by the High Court Division in its original jurisdiction. Since 9 December 2021 they have had to be e-filed through the Supreme Court's lawyers' portal, with a hard copy still lodged. This walk-through covers getting access, uploading, the affidavit, registration in the Original Section and the first hearing.

Bring on the day: Advocate's portal user ID and password, Petition, affidavit and annexures as clear PDFs, Board resolution or authority where relevant, Signed vokalatnama, Deponent's NID or passport

1. Arrange portal access with the section

   Original Section (company and admiralty matters) · 3rd floor, Administrative Building 4

   Company and admiralty matters are kept by the Original Section on the 3rd floor of Administrative Building 4. Filing is done by the advocate through the Supreme Court's 'Case Filing System for Lawyers' (the Lawyers' Panel) using a user ID and password. The website does not publish how access is issued, so on a first filing your advocate should ask at the Original Section or the E-Filing Center how to obtain credentials. The website's Tutorial page has e-filing video tutorials on how the lawyers' panel works.

   Tip: Sort out access before a deadline; first-time setup can take longer than the filing.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: A visit or two before the first filing (indicative)Bring: Advocate's detailsYou get: Portal user ID and password

2. Upload the petition and documents

   E-Filing Center · Ground floor, Annex Building

   Your advocate logs into the portal and uploads or scans the application, the court fee and related documents, with the company or admiralty information the system asks for. Press reports describe the system as allowing filing at any time and from anywhere. The E-Filing Center on the ground floor of the Annex Building supports the system if problems arise. Keep scans legible: the HCD Rules require annexures to be legible, with typed or printed copies where possible. Save or print the submission record.

   Tip: Name files clearly (petition, affidavit, annex A, B and so on) so the section can match them to the hard copy.

   Who: Your lawyerTime: An hour or two if the PDFs are ready (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Petition and annexures as PDFsBring: Court fee detailsYou get: Online submission record

3. Swear the affidavit

   Commissioner of Affidavits · Ground floor, Administrative Building 2

   The petition still needs a sworn affidavit. The deponent, for a company usually a director or authorised officer, attends the Commissioner of Affidavits on the ground floor of Administrative Building 2 with photo ID and any board authority, swears or affirms and signs. The Commissioner certifies the stamping. The HCD Rules limit civil motion affidavits to 45 days; ask your advocate whether that applies to your filing. Agree the order of swearing and uploading with your advocate so the uploaded version matches the sworn one.

   Tip: Make sure the director who swears is the one named in the board resolution.

   Who: You + Court staffTime: Under an hour (indicative)Fee: No fee for affidavits taken in the Court house (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 33)Bring: Deponent's NID or passportBring: Board resolution or authorityYou get: Sworn affidavit

4. Lodge the hard copy for registration

   Original Section (company and admiralty matters) · 3rd floor, Administrative Building 4

   E-filing has not replaced paper entirely: press reports say lawyers must still file both digitally and traditionally. Your advocate's clerk lodges the printed petition, sworn affidavit and annexures at the Original Section, which registers the matter with a Company Matter or Admiralty Suit number and places it before the company or admiralty bench. The section's officers include an Assistant Registrar (Original Jurisdiction). Note the number; all later steps use it.

   Tip: Bring the online submission record in case the section asks for it.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Same day to a few days (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Printed petition, affidavit and annexuresBring: VokalatnamaYou get: Company Matter or Admiralty Suit number

5. Mention before the company or admiralty bench

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   To get the matter heard, your advocate files a mention slip with the Bench Officer of the bench that has company or admiralty jurisdiction, during its mention hour. Check the 'About Bench' list on the website for which bench currently has that jurisdiction. The Bench Officer adds a serial number, requisitions the file from the section before 3 p.m. and the matter appears in the list. At the first hearing the bench may admit the matter and give directions, for example on advertisement or notices to creditors or shareholders.

   Tip: Ask your advocate to note every direction and its deadline in writing.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Usually listed the next working day after mention (indicative)Bring: Mention slipBring: Case numberYou get: Directions from the bench

6. Comply with the bench's directions

   Original Section (company and admiralty matters) · 3rd floor, Administrative Building 4

   After the first hearing, the bench's directions must be carried out and compliance filed. Directions can include publishing advertisements, serving notices on creditors, shareholders or the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, or in admiralty suits serving the vessel or its owners. Your advocate files affidavits of compliance at the Original Section, which places the matter back before the bench. Missing a direction usually means an adjournment, so keep copies of newspaper pages and postal receipts.

   Tip: Diary every compliance deadline the day the order is made.

   Who: You + Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Weeks, depending on the directions (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Newspaper copiesBring: Postal receiptsBring: Compliance affidavitsYou get: Record of compliance on the file

7. Collect certified copies of orders

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   When the bench makes a final order, such as sanctioning a scheme or winding up a company, you will usually need certified copies, for example to file with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies or to enforce an admiralty decree. Apply at the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor on Form No. 24 (Civil). Charges are fixed by the HCD Rules; mark the application urgent if a regulatory deadline applies.

   Tip: Order enough copies for every authority that needs an original certified copy.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: within 72 hours (urgent) or by the 5th day (ordinary) after depositFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Case number and order dateBring: Court-fee stamps and foliosYou get: Certified copy of the order

A civil revision under s.115 of the Code of Civil Procedure asks the High Court Division to correct a lower civil court's order where the law allows. It is moved as a motion before a bench. If the bench issues a Rule, the case goes to a regional Rule section. This walk-through covers the papers, affidavit, motion, requisites and getting the case listed.

Bring on the day: Certified copies of the lower courts' judgments and orders, Pleadings and other papers relied on, Deponent's NID or passport, Signed vokalatnama, Copies for each opposite party after a Rule

1. Brief your advocate with certified copies

   Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)

   Meet your advocate, often at or near the Supreme Court Bar Association building. Bring certified copies of the judgment, order and any decree of the lower courts that you want revised. These come from the lower courts' own copying departments. Under the HCD Rules a civil motion must be accompanied by these certified copies, by certified copies of other orders relied on, and by originals or certified copies of other documents; an attested photocopy needs the Court's leave. The advocate checks the limitation period and the grounds.

   Tip: Apply for lower court certified copies early; they are usually the slowest part.

   Who: You + Your lawyerTime: 1-2 hours; drafting takes days (indicative)Bring: Certified copies of lower court ordersBring: PleadingsBring: NID or passportYou get: Advocate's advice on grounds and timing

2. Swear the affidavit

   Commissioner of Affidavits · Ground floor, Administrative Building 2

   A civil revision is a motion and must be supported by an affidavit. Under the HCD Rules it can be sworn by the applicant or by his tadbirkar, the person who follows the case for the party. The deponent attends the Commissioner of Affidavits on the ground floor of Administrative Building 2 with photo ID, swears or affirms and signs, and the Commissioner certifies that the application is sufficiently stamped. The motion must be filed with the Bench Officer within 45 days of swearing, or the affidavit expires.

   Tip: The 45 days do not extend the limitation period for the revision itself.

   Who: You + Court staffTime: Under an hour (indicative)Fee: No fee for affidavits taken in the Court house (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 33)Bring: NID or passportBring: Revision petitionYou get: Sworn affidavit with stamping certified

3. File the motion with the Bench Officer

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   Civil motions are filed with the Bench Officer of an appropriate Motion Bench on the first working day of the week; on other working days only with the bench's leave if urgent. Check the 'About Bench' list for a bench with civil revisional jurisdiction. The Bench Officer puts a serial number, initials, date and seal on the petition and tells your advocate or clerk the serial number. The motion then appears in that bench's list.

   Tip: If you file on another day for urgency, be ready to explain the urgency to the bench.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Minutes to file (indicative)Fee: Court fee / stamp as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Petition with affidavit and annexuresYou get: Serial number from the Bench Officer

4. Move the revision before the bench

   High Court Division courtrooms in the Annex Building

   On the listed day your advocate moves the revision before the bench, which may sit in the Annex, Main or Bijoy 71 building, so check the list. If the bench accepts it, it issues a Rule calling on the opposite parties to show cause, gives a return date and directs requisites within a set time; it may also stay the lower court's proceedings. If it does not, it records an order. A motion once moved cannot be withdrawn except for lack of jurisdiction, and a summarily rejected one cannot be refiled on the same ground.

   Tip: Get the order right first time; a rejected motion cannot be refiled on the same ground.

   Who: You + Your lawyerTime: Heard in minutes once called; may wait all day (indicative)Bring: Cause list entryBring: Case papersYou get: Rule with return date, or a recorded order

5. Rule section records the case

   Civil Rule and Revision sections (regional Rule sections) · Ground floor, Administrative Building 4 (Rule, Dhaka-Mymensingh); ground floor, Administrative Building 3 (Rule, Rajshahi-Rangpur); other Rule sections not mapped

   After the order is signed, the Bench Officer sends the petition to the section, which records it as a civil revision with a number and year. Regional Rule sections include Rule (Dhaka-Mymensingh) on the ground floor of Administrative Building 4 and Rule (Rajshahi-Rangpur) on the ground floor of Administrative Building 3; the others are not mapped. Within three working days, pay the service fee and file a full copy of the application for each opposite party, with a notice and pre-paid registered acknowledgement-due envelope for each.

   Tip: Go to the Rule section that matches the district the case came from.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: service fee within 3 working days of the orderFee: Service fee in cash or court-fee stamps (HCD Rules Ch. IV r. 13(2)); amount as per schedule; your lawyer will confirmBring: Copies for each opposite partyBring: Pre-paid registered AD envelopesBring: Service feeYou get: Civil Revision numberYou get: Note of requisites deposited

6. Send the stay order down

   Central Copying Section (certified copies) · Ground floor, Annex Building

   If the bench stayed the lower court's proceedings, the lower court must learn of it. Under the HCD Rules no copy of the Rule, and no consequential order such as a stay, is issued or communicated until requisites are furnished. Once they are, apply at the Central Copying Section on the Annex ground floor for a certified copy, marking it urgent if a lower court date is close. The urgent copy should ordinarily be ready within 72 hours of depositing the estimated stamps and folios.

   Tip: Produce the certified copy before the lower court's next date, not after.

   Who: Your lawyer's clerk + Court staffTime: Rule: within 72 hours of deposit for an urgent copyFee: Tk 2 per 150 English or 200 Bangla words; Tk 5 authentication per document; urgent copies Tk 10 extra per page (HCD Rules Ch. XIII rr. 7B, 15)Bring: Case number and order dateBring: Court-fee stamps and foliosYou get: Certified copy of the stay order

7. Get the Rule listed for hearing

   Bench Officer and Bench Reader (the court staff at each bench)

   For a civil motion, the section must place the file in the cause list of the bench dealing with Lawazima matters on or before the return date, and record a note on service within 15 days after it. Once service is complete and any paper book or record is ready, the Rule can be listed for hearing before a bench with civil revisional jurisdiction. Your advocate watches the cause list and, if needed, files a mention slip with the Bench Officer to have it listed.

   Tip: Serve any supplementary affidavit on the other side at least 24 hours before the hearing.

   Who: Your lawyer + Court staffTime: Rule: service note within 15 days of the return date; hearing date varies (indicative)Bring: Mention slipBring: Civil Revision numberYou get: Listing for hearing