Given that an attempt to commit an offence is generally punishable under the Code with half of the punishment provided for the offence,51 it may be inferred that an attempt to commit torture is punishable under the laws of Bangladesh, but only to the extent that torture is addressed as a criminal offence under enforceable laws. Similarly, according to the Penal Code, complicity or participation in an offence, depending on the circumstances of a case, can be punished as a joint liability or abetment of the offence. The principle of joint liability states that when a criminal act is done by several persons, in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.52 On the other hand, abetment of an offence means instigating any person to do the offence or engaging with one or more other person or persons in a conspiracy to commit the offence or intentionally aiding a person to commit the offence.53 When an offence is committed, its abetment is punishable with punishment provided for the offence.54 Therefore, complicity or participation in torture is punishable under the laws of Bangladesh only to the extent that torture is addressed as a criminal offence under the laws of Bangladesh. 51 Section 511. Section 34. 53 Section 107. 54 Section 109. 52 36