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.

Act No. ACT NO. XII OF 1932

Date: 8th April, 1932

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.

Footnotes

1.Throughout this Act, except otherwise provided, the words "Bangladesh" and "Government" were substituted for the words "Pakistan" and "Central Government" respectively by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973) (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)

2.The words "Penal Code" were substituted, for the words "Pakistan Penal Code" by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973). (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)

3.Proviso to section 3 was omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act VIII of 1973) (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)

4.The words "the High Court Division" were substituted, for the words "a High Court" by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973) (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)