147-year-old Touts Act to be replaced with tougher law

The government is set to replace the 147-year-old The Touts Act, 1879 with a new law aimed at tackling the growing activities of touts not only in courts but also across government offices through a comprehensive regulatory framework.
The proposed Touts Control Act, 2026 has been drafted to repeal the colonial-era The Touts Act, 1879 (Act No. XVIII of 1879) and re-enact it with provisions suited to present-day realities, according to a draft comparative statement prepared by the authorities, said a senior official at the home ministry.
The Touts Act (1879) is a Bangladeshi law, enacted in the British colonial era on October 29, 1879.
It was designed to curb the activities of unauthorised middlemen, commonly known as "touts," in judicial and revenue courts.
It empowered the authorities to identify, list and publicly notify individuals engaged in touting, prohibit their entry into court premises, and impose fines or imprisonment for violations of the law.
The draft of the upcoming 'Touts Control Act, 2026,' said the existing law has become outdated and no longer adequately addresses the evolving nature of touting.
It said separate and modern legal provisions are needed to regulate the activities of touts more effectively.
One of the key justifications for the new legislation is that the presence of touts has spread beyond courts and the legal profession into various government offices, requiring what the draft describes as a "holistic approach" to combat the problem.
The proposed law also seeks to draw a clear distinction between illegal touting and the legitimate activities of agents and brokers. Officials say the move is intended to prevent genuine agents from being unnecessarily affected while enabling law enforcement agencies to take action specifically against touts engaged in unlawful practices.
If enacted, the new legislation will be titled the Touts Control Act, 2026 and will come into force immediately upon promulgation.
An official at the Law and Justice Division, said under the current law, people listed as touts could be excluded from court premises and face punishment of up to 3 months imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 500, or both.
He said replacement of the colonial-era law marks a significant overhaul of Bangladesh's legal framework governing touts.
"We expect the new legislation to provide clearer definitions, stronger enforcement mechanisms and a broader scope to address organised touting in public service delivery," he said.
He said the draft has been prepared for consideration by the government as part of its broader initiative to modernise outdated laws inherited from the colonial period and strengthen governance in public institutions.

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