When should someone call the National Emergency Service 999 for a crime-related danger in Bangladesh?

Call 999 immediately when danger is current, someone is injured or an urgent threat is unfolding. Report the location, danger, injuries and concise suspect or vehicle details; the call is free.

How can someone report a non-emergency crime in Bangladesh through a Thana or General Diary (GD)?

Contact the responsible Thana or Police Station and request a GD when the complaint concerns a loss, found property or another GD-suitable matter. A GD is free and can be submitted in person or online; an online submission requires a National ID, active mobile number and live photo.

What happens when a crime in Bangladesh requires a cognizable case instead of a General Diary (GD)?

A cognizable offence is handled as a মামলা, or criminal case, rather than only as a GD. The complainant receives a printout or code and must appear personally at the relevant police station; keep the reference number, copy and officer details.

Which official support channels can women and children use after violence or cybercrime in Bangladesh?

Women affected by cybercrime can contact Police Cyber Support for Women by calling 01320000888. Violence against women and children can be reported through 109, while the nationwide free Child Helpline 1098 accepts reports from children or other callers; One Stop Crisis facilities and Dhaka's Victim Support Centre provide services according to local availability.

How should someone preserve evidence after cybercrime or a bank or mobile-financial-service scam in Bangladesh?

Keep chats, URLs, account names, transaction details and files unchanged, and contact the bank or mobile-financial-service provider immediately to block the account or transaction. Report the platform in parallel, never share OTPs, PINs or passwords, and do not pay an extortionist without advice.

Crime in Bangladesh

Crime in Bangladesh includes robbery, theft, fraud, violence, trafficking, narcotics offences and cybercrime. Bangladesh Police provides emergency response, police-station reporting, investigations and specialist units, but access and practical support vary by location and social situation. A General Diary (GD) records certain complaints, losses and found property; immediate danger requires the free National Emergency Service 999.

Tip

In Bangladesh, treat immediate danger as a 999 matter and preserve your options for later reporting. For a non-emergency loss or complaint, a free General Diary is usually the practical starting point; a suspected cognizable offence requires personal follow-up at the police station. After violence or online abuse, combine police contact with medical, safety and specialist support that is available in your location.

byNabila&Nayeem

Bangladesh Police operates nationwide through Thana or Police Station services for prevention, first response, complaint recording and investigation. Police statistics include dacoity and robbery, burglary and theft, murder, kidnapping, swindling and fraud, bank and financial crime, narcotics, arms offences, human trafficking, violence against women and children, sexual violence, cybercrime, extortion, false documents and assault on police. These categories show recorded cases, but official portals do not establish one reliable nationwide victimisation rate, and underreporting can affect the picture. Call 999 immediately when there is current danger, an injury or an urgent threat. Give the location, the type of danger, injuries and concise details about suspects or vehicles. For a non-emergency complaint, contact the responsible Thana or Police Station. A GD can be filed directly or online without a fee; the online process requires a National ID, an active mobile number and a live photo. The Citizen Charter gives a target of 1 to 7 days, while actual handling depends on the complaint and location. For loss, found property and other GD-suitable complaints, keep the digital copy and status. For a cognizable offence, meaning a matter for a মামলা (criminal case), the process includes receiving a printout or code and appearing personally at the police station. Keep the GD or case reference number, a copy and the name of the responsible officer. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) handles specialist investigations and has forensic, information-technology crime, human-trafficking and financial-crime functions. CID does not replace an emergency call to 999 or the first report to the responsible Thana. A service complaint should first go to the responsible officer, then to the District Police Superintendent and Range Deputy Inspector General; in a metropolitan area, the escalation path is Deputy Commissioner followed by Police Commissioner. Bangladesh Police also provides a formal grievance path through its Government Service Grievance Redress system. For a matter already assigned to CID, escalation begins with the Special Superintendent (Administration) and then the Additional Inspector General of CID. After violence, seek medical care, move to a safe place and involve a trusted person where appropriate. The National Helpline for Violence Against Women and Children is 109 and is described by the responsible authority as operating around the clock. One Stop Crisis Centres and Cells provide medical, police, legal and psychosocial referrals according to local capacity; in 2026, the documented network has 67 locations, including 47 district hospitals and 20 upazila health complexes. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police Victim Support Centre provides shelter, counselling, medical help, legal assistance and mediation, but it is Dhaka-focused and is not equally available nationwide. Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW) serves female cybercrime victims through online and offline support, technical and legal assistance, confidentiality and referrals to a Thana, specialist unit or Victim Support Centre. Its hotline is 01320000888 and its email address is cybersupport.women@police.gov.bd; the service is listed as free and as fast as possible. Children or other callers can report violence, abuse or exploitation through the nationwide free Child Helpline 1098. For online grooming, cyberbullying or sextortion, preserve evidence, avoid confronting the offender and involve a trusted adult and the police. Common digital crimes include phishing, bank or mobile-financial-service scams, account takeover, identity misuse, online harassment, threats and sextortion. Do not share an OTP, PIN or password, activate two-factor authentication and contact the bank or mobile-financial-service provider immediately to block a fraudulent transaction or account. Preserve chats, URLs, account names, transaction details and files in their original form, and report the account or platform in parallel without deleting evidence. Do not pay an extortionist without advice. The current National Legal Aid Services Organization helpline is 16699; older police pages still mention 16430, so verify the number before calling. Legal aid can provide advice and access support but does not automatically start a criminal investigation. Formal services exist, yet regional reach, social barriers, trust, language and access to identification documents can affect use; informal or NGO assistance may supplement the documented police, medical and legal pathways.