The Legal Blueprint for Handling Defaulting Tenants in Bangladesh

What You Must NOT Do

Before covering the legal path, let's be clear about actions that landlords take that expose them to criminal liability in Bangladesh:

• Cutting electricity, water, or gas supply to a tenant who has not vacated — this is illegal even if rent is unpaid
• Changing or removing locks before a court order is obtained
• Removing the tenant's belongings from the premises
• Threatening or intimidating the tenant or their family

These actions can result in a criminal complaint being filed against you, regardless of how much rent the tenant owes. Courts will not be sympathetic to a landlord who took the law into their own hands.

The 5-Stage Legal Escalation Process

Stage 1: Informal Resolution (Days 1–14)

When rent is late, start with a direct conversation. Many late payments are temporary cash flow issues that resolve quickly. Document this conversation with a note in your records.

If not resolved in 7 days, send a formal payment reminder in writing (text message or written note). Keep a copy or screenshot. Record the date in Bari Shamlai.

Stage 2: Written Legal Notice (Day 15–30)

If payment is still outstanding after 14 days:

• Issue a formal written notice stating:

- The amount owed

- A deadline to pay (typically 7 days)

- A statement that failure to pay will result in legal proceedings

• Deliver in person with a witness, or by registered post
• Keep a copy and your postal receipt

This notice is a legal prerequisite in most proceedings. Without it, a court may dismiss your case on procedural grounds.

Stage 3: Application to Rent Controller (Day 30–60)

Bangladesh's Premises Rent Control Act provides for a Rent Controller in each district. The process:

1. File an application at the Rent Controller's office in your district with:

- Copy of the rental agreement

- Copies of your payment notices

- Documentation of unpaid rent

2. The Rent Controller issues notice to the tenant

3. A hearing is scheduled (typically within 30–60 days)

4. If the tenant fails to appear, or if you succeed on merits, an eviction order is issued

Cost: Filing fees are relatively low — typically ৳500–৳2,000 depending on the claim amount.

Stage 4: Civil Court — Arrears Recovery (Parallel Track)

Separately from the eviction proceeding, you can file a money recovery suit in the civil court to recover unpaid rent as a debt. This is useful even after the tenant has vacated, to recover arrears.

Stage 5: Execution of Court Order

Once you have an eviction order, if the tenant still does not leave:

• Apply to the court for a warrant of possession
• Court bailiffs execute the order, with police assistance if needed
• At this stage, the tenant's belongings may be removed under official supervision

How Long Does This Take?

Realistically, the full process — from first missed payment to court-ordered eviction — takes 3–9 months in Dhaka courts, depending on the ward and court backlog. Starting the process early (issuing the formal notice at day 15) compresses this timeline as much as possible.

The Most Important Thing: Documentation

From day one of a tenancy, maintain records in Bari Shamlai:

• Signed rental agreement
• Every payment received with date and method
• Every notice sent with delivery confirmation

A landlord with clean records wins disputes. A landlord with no records starts every dispute at a disadvantage. Begin your documentation habit today, before a problem arises.

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