The Passport (Offences) Act, 1952

An Act to introduce legislation declaring forgery of a passport or a false statement in an application for a passport to be punishable offences. 1

Act No. ACT NO. LVI OF 1952

Date: 14th December, 1952

An Act to introduce legislation declaring forgery of a passport or a false statement in an application for a passport to be punishable offences. ¹ WHEREAS it is expedient to make more effective provision for the prevention of certain offences relating to passports and other travel documents; It is hereby enacted as follows:-

Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Passport (Offences) Act, 1952.

(2) It extends to the whole of Bangladesh and also applies to all citizens of Bangladesh wherever they may be.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

Section 2. Definition

In this Act the word “passport” means and includes any permit, visa or other travel document authorising the holder thereof to travel from Bangladesh to any other country, or from any other country to Bangladesh.

Section 3. Penalties for certain offences relating to passport

(1) Any person who,-

(a) makes, attests or verifies any statement which he does not know or believe to be true in any document which he knows or has reason to think will be used for obtaining a passport; or

(b) makes use of any statement which he knows or has reason to think to be untrue in any document for obtaining a passport; or

(c) wilfully conceals any fact which under the circumstances he ought to disclose for the purpose of obtaining a passport for himself or another person; or

(d) forges, alters or tampers with any passport or with any document which he knows or has reason to believe will be used for obtaining a passport; or

(e) uses a passport which he knows or has reason to believe to be forged, altered, or tampered with; or

(f) is in wrongful possession for any purpose prejudicial to the interests of the State of a passport not lawfully issued to him; or

(g) traffics in passports;

shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with a fine, or with both.

Explanation.- A person who bona fide works for an applicant for a passport at the desire of the applicant though it may be for a gain does not traffic in passports within the meaning of this section.

²(2) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this section except with the previous sanction in writing of the Government.

Footnotes

1.Throughout this Act, unless otherwise provided, the word “Bangladesh” was substituted for the word “Pakistan” by section 3 and the Second Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973) (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)

2.Sub-section (2) was substituted by section 3 and the Second Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973) (See: Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973)