Is Cannabis / THC legal in Bangladesh?

Legal status

Cannabis controlled in a lower category under the Narcotics Control Act 2018 (Article 19 lineage) — 6 months to life by quantity; NOT a capital offence; no medical program

Consequences if caught

Cannabis is controlled in a lower category under Bangladesh's Narcotics Control Act 2018 (Article 19 lineage), with penalties ranging from 6 months to life by quantity — but it is NOT a capital offence (unlike yaba above 200 g or heroin/cocaine above 25 g). There is no recreational or medical cannabis framework.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form; Bangladesh has no medical-cannabis program.

Documentation

The Narcotics Control Act 2018 (in force 27 December 2018) carries the DEATH PENALTY or life imprisonment for trading, producing, transporting, storing or using 200 g or more of yaba (methamphetamine/amphetamine) OR 25 g or more of heroin, cocaine or coca-derived narcotics; financing or patronizing drug dealing carries the death penalty as the maximum. Below those thresholds: under 200 g of yaba draws 1–5 years (under 5 g up to 5 years); under 25 g of Category-A narcotics (heroin/cocaine) draws 2–10 years. Cannabis is controlled in a lower category (Article 19 lineage) with penalties from 6 months to life by quantity, but is NOT a capital offence. Yaba/methamphetamine, shisha and khat were newly defined in the 2018 Act, which also introduced a dope-test provision. There is NO medical-cannabis program. The death penalty is current and in force (the last known drug execution was in 2009 per HRI, but the 2018 Act re-armed it). Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Bangladesh’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.