The Foreign Relations Act, 1932
An Act to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of certain foreign States.
1An Act to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of certain foreign States. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between the Government of Bangladesh and the Governments of certain foreign States; It is hereby enacted as follows:-
Section 1. Short title and extent
(1) This Act may be called the Foreign Relations Act, 1932.
(2) It extends to the whole of Bangladesh.
Section 2. Power of Government to prosecute in certain cases of defamation
Where an offence falling under Chapter XXI of the 2Penal Code is committed against a Ruler of a State outside but adjoining Bangladesh, or against the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler, the Government may make, or authorize any person to make, a complaint in writing of such offence, and, notwithstanding anything contained in section 198 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, any Court competent in other respects to take cognizance of such offence may take cognizance thereof on such compliant.
Section 3. Power to forfeit certain publications or to detain them in the course of transmission through post.
The provisions of sections 99A to 99G of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and of sections 27B to 27D of the Post Office Act, 1898, shall apply in the case of any book, newspaper or other document containing matter which is defamatory of a Ruler of a State outside but adjoining Bangladesh or of the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler and tends to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of such State, in like manner as they apply in the case of a book, newspaper or document containing seditious matter within the meaning of those sections:
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Section 4. Proof of status of persons defamed
Where, in any trial of an offence upon a compliant under section 2, or in any proceeding before 4the High Court Division arising out of section 3, there is a question whether any person is a Ruler of any State, or is the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler, a certificate under the hand of a Secretary to the Government that such person is such Ruler, consort, son or principal Minister shall be conclusive proof of that fact.