§ 1Short title, extent and commencement
Sections30
LanguageEnglish
The Limitation Act, 1908 prescribes the time limits within which legal proceedings must be commenced in Bangladeshi courts. It applies to civil suits, appeals, and applications filed in all courts, except where special legislation provides different limitation periods. The Act establishes that a suit must be filed within a specified period from the date the cause of action first accrues, and that claims filed after the expiry of the limitation period are barred even if the underlying right is valid. The Act contains three Schedules listing limitation periods: Schedule I covers suits generally (e.g., three years for contracts, one year for defamation, twelve years for immovable property), Schedule II covers appeals, and Schedule III covers applications. Key mechanisms include the computation of limitation periods, provisions for extension of time in cases of disability, acknowledgment of liability, part payment, and the effect of fraud or mistake on the running of time. A notable provision is Section 5, which allows courts to admit appeals or applications after the prescribed period for sufficient cause. The Act is currently in force and is essential for civil litigation.
Full text · showing key sections
§ 2Definitions
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
(1)“applicant” includes any person from or through whom an applicant derives his right to apply:
(2)“bill of exchange” includes a hundi and a cheque:
(3)“bond” includes any instrument whereby a person obliges himself to pay money to another, on condition that the obligation shall be void if a specified act is performed, or is not performed, as the case may be:
(4)“defendant” includes any person from or through whom a defendant derives his liability to be sued:
(5)“easement” includes a right not arising from contract, by which one person is entitled to remove and appropriate for his own profit any part of the soil belonging to another or anything growing in, or attached to or subsisting upon, the land of another:
(6)“foreign country” means any country other than Bangladesh
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(7)“good faith”: nothing shall be deemed to be done in good faith which is not done with due care and attention:
(8)“plaintiff” includes any person from or through whom a plaintiff derives his right to sue:
(9)“promissory note” means any instrument whereby the maker engages absolutely to pay a specified sum of money to another at a time therein limited, or on demand, or at sight:
(10)“suit” does not include an appeal or application: and
(11)“trustee” does not include a benamider, a mortgagee remaining in possession after the mortgage has been satisfied, or a wrong-doer in possession without title.
§ 3Dismissal of suits, etc., instituted, etc., after period of limitation
Subject to the provisions contained in sections 4 to 25 (inclusive), every suit instituted, appeal preferred, and application made, after the period of limitation prescribed therefor by the first schedule shall be dismissed, although limitation has not been set up as a defence.
Explanation-A suit is instituted, in ordinary cases, when the plaint is presented to the proper officer; in the case of a pauper, when his application for leave to sue as a pauper is made; and, in the case of a claim against a company which is being wound up by the Court, when the claimant first sends in his claim to the official liquidator.
§ 4Where Court is closed when period expires
Where the period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application expires on a day when the Court is closed, the suit, appeal or application may be instituted, preferred or made on the day that the Court re-opens.
§ 5Extension of period in certain cases
Any appeal or application for a revision or a review of judgment or for leave to appeal or any other application to which this section may be made applicable by or under any enactment for the time being in force may be admitted after the period of limitation prescribed therefor, when the appellant or applicant satisfies the Court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or making the application within such period.
Explanation- The fact that the appellant or applicant was misled by any order, practice or judgment of the High Court Division in ascertaining or computing the prescribed period of limitation may be sufficient cause within the meaning of this section.
§ 6Legal disability
(1)Where a person entitled to institute a suit or proceeding or make an application for the execution of a decree is, at the time from which the period of limitation is to be reckoned, a minor, or insane, or an idiot, he may institute the suit or proceeding or make the application within the same period after the disability has ceased, as would otherwise have been allowed from the time prescribed therefore in the third column of the first schedule or in section 48 of the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
.
(2)Where such person is, at the time from which the period of limitation is to be reckoned, affected by two such disabilities, or where, before his disability has ceased, he is affected by another disability, he may institute the suit or make the application within the same period, after both disabilities have ceased, as would otherwise have been allowed from the time so prescribed.
(3)Where the disability continues up to the death of such person, his legal representative may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after the death as would otherwise have been allowed from the time so prescribed.
(4)Where such representative is at the date of the death affected by any such disability, the rules contained in sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply.
Illustrations
(a) The right to sue for the hire of a boat accrues to A during his minority. He attains majority four years after such accruer. He may institute his suit at any time within the years from the date of his attaining majority.
(b) A right to sue accrues to Z during his minority. After the accruer, but while Z is still a minor, he becomes insane. Time runs against Z from the date when his insainity and minority cease.
(c) A right to sue accrues to X during his minority. X dies before attaining majority, and is succeeded by Y, his minor son. Time runs against Y from the date of his attaining majority.
§ 7Disability of one of several plaintiffs or applicants
Where one of several persons jointly entitled to institute a suit or proceeding or make an application for the execution of a decree is under any such disability, and discharge can be given without the concurrence of such person, time will run against them all: but, where no such discharge can be given, time will not run as against any of them until one of them becomes capable of giving such discharge without the concurrence of the others or until the disability has ceased.
Illustrations
(a) A incurs a debt to a firm of which B, C and D are partners. B is insane, and C is a minor. D can give a discharge of the debt without the concurrence of B and C. Time runs against B, C and D.
(b) A incurs a debt to a firm of which E, F and G are partners. E and F are insane, and G is a minor. Time will not run against any of them until either E or F becomes sane, or G attains majority.
§ 8Special exceptions
Nothing in section 6 or in section 7 applies to suits to enforce rights of pre-emption, or shall be deemed to extend, for more than three years from the cessation of the disability or the death of the person affected thereby, the period within which any suit must be instituted or application made.
Illustrations
(a) A, to whom a right to sue for a legacy has accrued during his minority, attains majority eleven years after such accruer. A has, under the ordinary law, only one year remaining within which to sue. But under section 6 and this section an extension of two years will be allowed him, making in all a period of three years from the date of his attaining majority, within which he may bring his suit.
(b) A right to sue for an hereditary office accrues to A who at the time is insane. Six years after the accruer A recovers his reason. A has six years, under the ordinary law, from the date when his insanity ceased within which to institute a suit. No extension of time will be given him under section 6 read with this section.
(c) A right to sue as landlord to recover possession from a tenant accrues to A, who is an idiot. A dies three years after the accruer, his idiocy continuing up to the date of his death. A's representative in interest has, under the ordinary law, nine years from the date of A's death within which to bring a suit. Section 6 read with this section does not extend that time, except where the representative is himself under disability when the representation devolves upon him.
§ 9Continuous running of time
Where once time has begun to run, no subsequent disability or inability to sue stops it:
Provided thatwhere letters of administration to the estate of a creditor have been granted to his debtor, the running of the time prescribed for a suit to recover the debt shall be suspended while the administration continues.
§ 10Suits against express trustees and their representatives
Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, no suit against a person in whom property has become vested in trust for any specific purpose, or against his legal representatives or assigns (not being assigns for valuable consideration), for the purpose of following in his or their hands such property or the proceeds thereof, or for an account of such property or proceeds, shall be barred by any length of time.
For the purposes of this section any property comprised in a Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist religious or charitable endowment shall be deemed to be property vested in trust for a specific purpose, and the manager of any such property shall be deemed to be the trustee thereof.
§ 11Suits on foreign contracts
(1)Suits instituted in Bangladesh on contracts entered into in a foreign country are subject to the rules of limitation contained in this Act.
(2)No foreign rule of limitation shall be a defence to a suit instituted in Bangladesh on a contract entered into in a foreign country, unless the rule has extinguished the contract and the parties were domiciled in such country during the period prescribed by such rule.
§ 12Exclusion of time in legal proceedings
(1)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application, the day from which such period is to be reckoned shall be excluded.
(2)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for an appeal, an application for leave to appeal and an application for a review of judgment, the day on which the judgment complained of was pronounced, and the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the decree, sentence or order appealed from or sought to be reviewed, shall be excluded.
(3)Where a decree is appealed from or sought to be reviewed, the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the judgment on which it is founded shall also be excluded.
(4)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for an application to set aside an award, the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the award shall be excluded.
§ 13Exclusion of time of defendant’s absence from Bangladesh and certain other territories
In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any suit, the time during which the defendant has been absent from Bangladesh and from the territories beyond Bangladesh under the administration of the
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[Government] shall be excluded.
§ 14Exclusion of time of proceeding bona fide in Court without jurisdiction
(1)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any suit, the time during which the plantiff has been prosecuting with due diligence another civil proceeding, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal, against the defendant, shall be excluded, where the proceeding is founded upon the same cause of action and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which, from defect of jurisdiction, or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it.
(2)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any application, the time during which the applicant has been prosecuting with due diligence another civil proceeding, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal, against the same party for the same relief shall be excluded, where such proceeding is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which, from defect of jurisdiction, or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it.
ExplanationI - In excluding the time during which a former suit or application was pending, the day on which that suit or application was instituted or made, and the day on which the proceedings therein ended, shall both be counted.
ExplanationII - For the purposes of this section, a plaintiff or an applicant resisting an appeal shall be deemed to be prosecuting a proceeding.
ExplanationIII - For the purposes of this section misjoinder of parties or of causes of action shall be deemed to be a cause of a like nature with defect of jurisdiction.
§ 15Exclusion of time during which proceedings are suspended
(1)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any suit or application for the execution of a decree, the institution or execution of which has been stayed by injunction or order, the time of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded.
(2)In computing the period of limitation prescribed for any suit of which notice has been given in accordance with the requirements of any enactment for the time being in force, the period of such notice shall be excluded.
§ 16Exclusion of time during which proceedings to set aside execution-sale are pending
In computing the period of limitation prescribed for a suit for possession by a purchaser at a sale in execution of a decree, the time during which a proceeding to set aside the sale has been prosecuted shall be excluded.
§ 17Effect of death before right to sue accrues
(1)Where a person, who would, if he were living, have a right to institute a suit or make an application, dies before the right accrues, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal representative of the deceased capable of instituting or making such suit or application.
(2)Where person against whom, if he were living, a right to institute a suit or make an application would have accrued dies before the right accrues, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal representative of the deceased against whom the plaintiff may institute or make such suit or application.
(3)Nothing in sub-sections (1) and (2) applied to suits to enforce rights of pre-emption or to suits for the possession of immoveable property or of an hereditary office.
§ 18Effect of fraud
Where any person having a right to institute a suit or make an application has, by means of fraud, been kept from the knowledge of such right or of the title on which it is founded,
or where any document necessary to establish such right has been fraudulently concealed from him,
the time limited for instituting a suit or making an application-
(a) against the person guilty of the fraud or accessory thereto, or
(b) against any person claiming through him otherwise than in good faith and for a valuable consideration,
shall be computed from the time when the fraud first became known to the person injuriously affected thereby, or, in the case of the concealed document, when he first had the means of producing it or compelling its production.
§ 19Effect of acknowledgement in writing
(1)Where, before the expiration of the period prescribed for a suit or application in respect of any property or right, an acknowledgement of liability in respect of such property or right has been made in writing signed by the party against whom such property or right is claimed, or by some person through whom he derives title or liability, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the acknowledgement was so signed.
(2)Where the writing containing the acknowledgement is undated, oral evidence may be given of the time when it was signed; but, subject to the provisions of the
Evidence Act, 1872
, oral evidence of its contents shall not be received.
Evidence Act, 1872
, oral evidence of its contents shall not be received.
ExplanationI - For the purposes of this section an acknowledgement may be sufficient though it omits to specify the exact nature of the property or right, or avers that the time
for payment, delivery, performance or enjoyment has not yet come, or is accompanied by a refusal to pay, deliver, perform or permit to enjoy, or is coupled with a claim to a set-off, or is addressed to a person other than the person entitled to the property or right.
ExplanationII - For the purposes of this section, “signed” means signed either personally or by an agent duly authorized in this behalf.
ExplanationIII - For the purposes of this section an application for the execution of a decree or order is an application respect of a right.
§ 20Effect of payment on account of debt or of interest on legacy
(1)Where payment on account of a debt or of interest on a legacy is made before the expiration of the prescribed period by the person liable to pay the debt or legacy, or by his duly authorized agent, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the payment was made:
Provided that, save in the case of a payment of interest made before the 1st day of January, 1928, an acknowledgment of the payment appears in the handwriting of, or in a writing signed by the person making the payment.
§ 21Agent of persons under disability
(1)The expression “agent duly authorised in his behalf,” in sections 19 and 20, shall, in the case of a person under disability, include his lawful guardian, committee or manager, or an agent duly authorised by such guardian, committee or manager to sign the acknowledgement or make the payment.
(2)Nothing in the said sections renders one of several joint contractors, partners, executors or mortgagees chargeable by reason only of a written acknowledgment signed or of a payment made by, or by the agent of, any other or others of them.
(3)For the purposes of the said sections-
(a) an acknowledgment signed, or a payment made, in respect of any liability, by, or by the duly authorised agent of, any widow or other limited owner of property who is governed by the Hindu law, shall be a valid acknowledgment or payment, as the case may be, as against a reversioner succeeding to such liability; and
(b) where a liability has been incurred by, or on behalf of, a Hindu undivided family as such, an acknowledgment or payment made by, or by the duly authorised agent of, the manager of the family for the time being shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of the whole family.
(a) an acknowledgment signed, or a payment made, in respect of any liability, by, or by the duly authorised agent of, any widow or other limited owner of property who is governed by the Hindu law, shall be a valid acknowledgment or payment, as the case may be, as against a reversioner succeeding to such liability; and
(b) where a liability has been incurred by, or on behalf of, a Hindu undivided family as such, an acknowledgment or payment made by, or by the duly authorised agent of, the manager of the family for the time being shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of the whole family.
§ 22Effect of substituting or adding new plaintiff or defendant
(1)Where, after the institution of a suit, a new plaintiff or defendant is substituted or added, the suit shall, as regards him, be deemed to have been instituted when he was so made a party.
(2)Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to a case where a party is added or substituted owing to an assignment or devolution of any interest during the pendency of a suit or where a plaintiff is made a defendant or a defendant is made a plaintiff.
§ 23Continuing breaches and wrongs
In the case of a continuing breach of contract and in the case of a continuing wrong independent of contract, a fresh period of limitation begins to run at every moment of the time during which the breach or the wrong, as the case may be, continues.
§ 24Suit for compensation for act not actionable without special damage
In the case of a suit for compensation for an act which does not give rise to a cause of action unless some specific injury actually results therefrom, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the injury results.
IllustrationA owns the surface of a field. B owns the subsoil. B digs coal thereout without causing any immediate apparent injury to the surface, but at last the surface subsides. The period of limitation in the case of a suit by A against B runs from the time of the subsidence.
§ 25Computation of time mentioned in instruments
All instruments shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be made with reference to the Gregorian calendar.
Illustrations
(a) A Hindu makes a promissory note bearing a Native date only, and payable four months after date. The period of limitation applicable to a suit on the note runs from the expiration of four months after date computed according to the Gregorian calendar.
(b) A Hindu makes a bond, bearing a Native date only, for the repayment of money within one year. The period of limitation applicable to a suit on the bond runs from the expiration of one year after date computed according to the Gregorian Calendar.
§ 26Acquisition of right to easements
(1)Where the access and use of light or air to and for any building have been peaceably enjoyed therewith as an easement, and as of right, without interruption, and for twenty years,
and where any way or watercourse, or the use of any water, or any other easement (whether affirmative or negative) has been peaceably and openly enjoyed by any person claiming title thereto as an easement and as of right without interruption, and for twenty years,
the right to such access and use of light or air, way, water-course, use of water, or other easement shall be absolute and indefeasible.
Each of the said periods of twenty years shall be taken to be a period ending within two years next before the institution of the suit wherein the claim to which such period relates is contested.
and where any way or watercourse, or the use of any water, or any other easement (whether affirmative or negative) has been peaceably and openly enjoyed by any person claiming title thereto as an easement and as of right without interruption, and for twenty years,
the right to such access and use of light or air, way, water-course, use of water, or other easement shall be absolute and indefeasible.
Each of the said periods of twenty years shall be taken to be a period ending within two years next before the institution of the suit wherein the claim to which such period relates is contested.
(2)Where the property over which a right is claimed under sub-section (1) belongs to the Government, that sub-section shall be read as if for the words “twenty years” the words “sixty years” were substituted.
Explanation- Nothing is an interruption within the meaning of this section, unless where there is an actual discontinuance of the possession or enjoyment by reason of an obstruction by the act of some person other than the claimant, and unless such obstruction is submitted to or acquiesced in for one year after the claimant has notice thereof and of the person making or authorising the same to be made.
Illustrations
(a) A suit is brought in 1911 for obstructing a right of way. The defendant admits the obstruction, but denies the right of way. The plaintiff proves that the right was peaceably and openly enjoyed by him, claiming title thereto as an easement and as of right, without interruption from 1st January, 1890 to 1st January, 1910. The plaintiff is entitled to judgment.
(b) In a like suit the plaintiff shows that the right was peaceably and openly enjoyed by him for twenty years. The defendant proves that the plaintiff, on one occasion during the twenty years, ...
§ 27Exclusion in favour of reversioner of servient tenement.
Where any land or water upon, over or from which any easement has been enjoyed or derived has been held under or by virtue of any interest for life or any term of years exceeding three years from the granting thereof, the time of the enjoyment of such easement during the continuance of such interest or term shall be excluded in the computation of the period of twenty years in case the claim is, within three years next after the determination of such interest or term, resisted by the person entitled, on such determination, to the said land or water.
IllustrationA sues for a declaration that he is entitled to a right of way over B's land. A proves that he has enjoyed the right for twenty-five years; but B shows that during ten of these years C, a Hindu widow, had a life interest in the land, that on C's death B became entitled to the land, and that within two years after C's death he contested A's claim to the right. The suit must be dismissed, as A, with reference to the provisions of this section, has only proved enjoyment for fifteen years.
§ 28Extinguishment of right to property
At the determination of the period hereby limited to any person for instituting a suit for possession of any property, his right to such property shall be extinguished.
§ 29a30-32. [Repealed]
30-31. [Repealed by section 3 and Schedule of the Repealing and Amending Act, 1930 (Act No. VIII of 1930).]
32. [Repealed by section 3 and Second Schedule of the Second Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (Act No. XVII of 1914).]
§ 29Savings
(1)Nothing in this Act shall affect section 25 of the
Contract Act, 1872
.
Contract Act, 1872
.
(2)Where any special
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[* * *] law prescribes for any suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different from the period prescribed therefore by the first schedule, the provision of section 3 shall apply, as if such period were prescribed therefor in that schedule, and for the purpose of determining any period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any special
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[* * *] law-
(a) the provisions contained in section 4, sections 9 to 18, and section 22 shall apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are not expressly excluded by such special
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[* * *] law; and
(b) the remaining provisions of this Act shall not apply.
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[* * *] law prescribes for any suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different from the period prescribed therefore by the first schedule, the provision of section 3 shall apply, as if such period were prescribed therefor in that schedule, and for the purpose of determining any period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any special
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[* * *] law-
(a) the provisions contained in section 4, sections 9 to 18, and section 22 shall apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are not expressly excluded by such special
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[* * *] law; and
(b) the remaining provisions of this Act shall not apply.
(3)Nothing in this Act shall apply to suits under the Divorce Act.
(4)Sections 26 and 27 and the definition of “easement” in section 2 shall not apply to cases arising in territories to which the
Easements Act, 1882
, may for the time being extend.
Easements Act, 1882
, may for the time being extend.
The Limitation Act, 1908 prescribes the time limits within which legal proceedings must be commenced in Bangladeshi courts. It applies to civil suits, appeals, and applications filed in all courts, except where special legislation provides different limitation periods. The Act establishes that a suit must be filed within a specified period from the date the cause of action first accrues, and that claims filed after the expiry of the limitation period are barred even if the underlying right is valid. The Act contains three Schedules listing limitation periods: Schedule I covers suits generally (e.g., three years for contracts, one year for defamation, twelve years for immovable property), Schedule II covers appeals, and Schedule III covers applications. Key mechanisms include the computation of limitation periods, provisions for extension of time in cases of disability, acknowledgment of liability, part payment, and the effect of fraud or mistake on the running of time. A notable provision is Section 5, which allows courts to admit appeals or applications after the prescribed period for sufficient cause. The Act is currently in force and is essential for civil litigation.