Skip to content

Volume 1: Regulation V of 1799 to Act No. I of 1872

← Back to Laws Index

Period Covered: 1799-1872
Historical Context: Establishment of British colonial legal framework and foundational laws that shaped South Asian jurisprudence

Overview

This foundational volume spans nearly three-quarters of a century, documenting the evolution from early East India Company regulations to comprehensive British colonial legislation. It represents the bedrock of South Asian legal system, containing landmark acts that continue to influence Bangladesh law today.

Historical Significance

  • Colonial Foundation: Earliest systematic legal framework in the subcontinent
  • Criminal Law Codification: The Penal Code, 1860 - cornerstone of criminal law
  • Evidence System: The Evidence Act, 1872 - foundation of judicial procedure
  • Social Reform: Progressive legislation including Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act
  • Administrative Framework: Police, courts, and revenue administration establishment

Table of Acts (আইনসমূহের তালিকা)

আইনের নাম / Act Name আইন নম্বর বছর অবস্থা লিংক
THE [***] WILLS AND INTESTACY REGULATION, 1799 V ১৭৯৯ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND ESCHEATS REGULATION, 1810 XIX ১৮১০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] STATE PRISONERS REGULATION, 1818 III ১৮১৮ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] GOVERNMENT INDEMNITY REGULATION, 1822 XI ১৮২২ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] ALLUVION AND DILUVION REGULATION, 1825 XI ১৮২৫ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] REVENUE COMMISSIONERS REGULATION, 1829 I ১৮২৯ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] SATI REGULATION, 1829 ⭐ XVII ১৮২৯ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
THE [***] LAND-REVENUE (SETTLEMENT AND DEPUTY COLLECTORS) REGULATION, 1833 IX ১৮৩৩ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Districts Act, 1836 XXI ১৮৩৬ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Public Accountant's Default Act, 1850 XII ১৮৫০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Judicial Officer's Protection Act, 1850 XVIII ১৮৫০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Public Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1850 XXXVII ১৮৫০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Tolls Act, 1851 VIII ১৮৫১ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Legal Representative Suits Act, 1855 XII ১৮৫৫ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 XIII ১৮৫৫ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Bills of Lading Act, 1856 IX ১৮৫৬ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1856 ⭐ XV ১৮৫৬ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Societies Registration Act, 1860 XXI ১৮৬০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Penal Code, 1860 ⭐ XLV ১৮৬০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Police Act, 1861 ⭐ V ১৮৬১ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Stage-Carriages Act, 1861 XVI ১৮৬১ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Canals Act, 1864 V ১৮৬৪ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Carriers Act, 1865 III ১৮৬৫ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Public Gambling Act, 1867 II ১৮৬৭ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Acting Judges Act, 1867 XVI ১৮৬৭ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Sarais Act, 1867 XXII ১৮৬৭ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Alluvion (Amendment) Act, 1868 IV ১৮৬৮ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Divorce Act, 1869 IV ১৮৬৯ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Court-fees Act, 1870 VII ১৮৭০ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Cattle-trespass Act, 1871 I ১৮৭১ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Pensions Act, 1871 XXIII ১৮৭১ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত
The Evidence Act, 1872 ⭐ I ১৮৭২ সক্রিয় বিস্তারিত

Key Legislation Highlights

⭐ Landmark Legislation

  • The Penal Code, 1860: Foundation of criminal law across South Asia
  • The Evidence Act, 1872: Framework for court procedures and evidence
  • The Police Act, 1861: Modern police system establishment
  • The Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1856: Progressive social legislation
  • THE SATI REGULATION, 1829: Historic social reform against harmful practices

🏛️ Administrative Framework

  • THE REVENUE COMMISSIONERS REGULATION, 1829: Land revenue administration
  • The Districts Act, 1836: Administrative district organization
  • The Public Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1850: Government employee accountability

📊 Major Categories

  • ⚖️ Criminal Law & Justice: 4 acts (Penal code, police, evidence, gambling)
  • 🏛️ Administrative & Revenue: 7 acts (Revenue, districts, public servants, accounts, tolls)
  • 👰 Social Reform & Family Law: 4 acts (Widow remarriage, sati regulation, divorce, marriage)
  • 🚢 Commercial & Trade: 4 acts (Bills of lading, carriers, stage carriages, canals)
  • 🏛️ Judicial System: 4 acts (Evidence, court fees, judicial protection, acting judges)
  • 🏠 Property & Land: 3 acts (Alluvion, cattle trespass, endowments)
  • 👥 Civil Society: 2 acts (Societies registration, legal representative suits)
  • ⚔️ State Security: 2 acts (State prisoners, government indemnity)
  • 🏨 Public Services: 3 acts (Sarais, pensions, fatal accidents)

⚖️ Criminal Law Revolution

The Penal Code, 1860 established: - Comprehensive Framework: Complete criminal law codification - Modern Principles: Systematic approach to crimes and punishments - Lasting Legacy: Foundation of Bangladesh criminal law - International Influence: Model for colonial legal systems - Social Justice: Balanced approach to traditional and modern justice

📜 Judicial Procedure Foundation

The Evidence Act, 1872 provided: - Legal Procedure: Systematic rules for evidence presentation - Court Operations: Foundation of modern judicial process - Documentary Evidence: Framework for document authentication - Expert Testimony: Provisions for scientific evidence - Witness Protection: Rules for witness examination

👮‍♂️ Law Enforcement Framework

The Police Act, 1861 introduced: - Organizational Structure: Hierarchical police organization - Powers and Duties: Clear definition of police authority - Public Safety: Community policing and crime prevention - Administrative Control: Government oversight of law enforcement - Professional Standards: Ethics and conduct for officers

👰 Social Reform Movement

Historic social legislation: - The Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1856: Legal recognition of widow remarriage - THE SATI REGULATION, 1829: Prohibition of harmful traditional practices - The Divorce Act, 1869: Modern divorce procedures - Women's Rights: Enhanced legal status for women

📈 Statistical Overview

  • Total Acts: 32
  • Currently Active: 30 (93.8%)
  • Repealed: 2 (6.2%)
  • 1799-1850 Acts: 13 (Early colonial period)
  • 1851-1872 Acts: 19 (Systematic codification period)

🏗️ Infrastructure and Development

Early infrastructure legislation: - The Canals Act, 1864: Water management and irrigation - The Stage-Carriages Act, 1861: Transportation regulation - The Tolls Act, 1851: Revenue collection from infrastructure - The Carriers Act, 1865: Commercial transportation

🌟 Social Justice Initiatives

Progressive social reforms: - THE SATI REGULATION, 1829: Protection of women from harmful practices - The Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1856: Women's marital rights - The Public Gambling Act, 1867: Social welfare and moral protection - The Societies Registration Act, 1860: Civil society organization

💡 Innovation and Reform

This volume introduced several innovations: - Complete Criminal Code: Systematic criminal law framework - Modern Evidence System: Scientific approach to judicial procedure - Professional Police Force: Organized law enforcement - Social Reform Legislation: Progressive women's rights - Administrative Framework: Systematic government operations

This foundational volume established the legal bedrock of South Asian jurisprudence, with landmark criminal law, judicial procedure, and social reform legislation that continues to influence Bangladesh's legal system today.