Trademark Registration Bangladesh – Complete Step-by-Step Legal Guide

A trademark is any sign, symbol, word, name, logo, device, or combination thereof that distinguishes the goods or services of one business from those of another. In Bangladesh, trademarks are governed by the Trademarks Act 2009 and the Trademarks Rules 2015. The registration authority is the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), operating under the Ministry of Industries.

A registered trademark gives the owner:

• The exclusive right to use the mark in Bangladesh for the registered goods/services
• The right to take civil and criminal legal action against infringers
• Presumption of ownership and validity in any dispute
• A valuable business asset that can be licensed or transferred
• Protection against customs import of counterfeit goods bearing the mark

Without registration, your rights depend on building a reputation through use (passing-off law) — a slower, more expensive, and less certain protection than statutory registration.

Many Bangladesh businesses delay trademark registration until a problem arises — by which point a competitor may have already registered the same mark, or a counterfeit operation has seriously damaged the brand. Common real-world problems that trademark registration prevents:

• Competitors registering your name first: Without registration, a rival can apply for and register your brand name, forcing you to rebrand or pay to buy back your own name.
• Counterfeit goods: Registered trademark owners can ask Customs to seize imported fake goods at the border — unregistered owners cannot.
• Disputes with franchisees or distributors: A clear registered mark makes licensing and enforcement much simpler.
• E-commerce platform brand protection: Platforms like Daraz Bangladesh require trademark registration evidence to remove copycat sellers.
• Export markets: Many international buyers and distributors require registered trademarks before they will stock or distribute your products.

A corporate lawyer in Dhaka will advise on a comprehensive trademark strategy — not just a single registration, but protection across all relevant classes and countries.

The following persons and entities can apply for trademark registration in Bangladesh:

• Bangladeshi individuals (citizens)
• Bangladeshi companies (private limited, public limited, partnership firms)
• Foreign nationals and foreign companies (through a registered agent in Bangladesh)
• Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) through a local representative

There is no requirement to be currently using the trademark to apply — Bangladesh allows applications based on proposed use. However, you must intend to use the mark in commerce in Bangladesh. Trademark agents (lawyers or IP firms) typically handle DPDT filings on behalf of clients.

Under the Trademarks Act 2009, the following types of marks may be registered:

• Word marks: Company names, product names, slogans
• Device/logo marks: Logos, symbols, graphic designs
• Combination marks: Word + logo together
• Colours: Specific colour combinations that identify a brand
• Shape marks: Distinctive product shapes (less common in Bangladesh)
• Sound marks: Audio jingles or sounds (rarely registered in Bangladesh currently)

What cannot be registered:

• Generic or descriptive terms (e.g., "Best Rice" for a rice brand)
• Deceptive or misleading marks
• Marks identical or confusingly similar to already-registered marks
• National emblems, flags, or official symbols
• Scandalous or offensive marks
• Marks that are purely geographic names

The trademark registration process in Bangladesh involves the following steps:

1. Trademark search: Before filing, conduct a search in the DPDT database to check if an identical or confusingly similar mark already exists. A trademark lawyer in Dhaka can perform a comprehensive search including pending applications that may not yet appear online.
2. Choose trademark class(es): Bangladesh uses the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification). You must select the correct class(es) for your goods/services. Each class requires a separate application and fee.
3. Prepare the application: The TM-1 form is completed with your details, a representation of the mark, the list of goods/services, and the date of first use (if the mark is already in use).
4. File with DPDT: The application, power of attorney, and government fee payment are submitted to the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks in Dhaka.
5. Examination: DPDT examines the application for compliance with the Trademarks Act. If there are objections, they are communicated and you have an opportunity to respond.
6. Publication in the Bangladesh Gazette: If accepted, the mark is published in the Official Gazette for opposition. Any party who believes the registration should not be granted has 2 months from the date of advertisement to file an opposition.
7. Registration: If no opposition is filed, or opposition is resolved in your favour, the trademark is registered and a Certificate of Registration is issued.

Current DPDT government fees for trademark registration (per class) in Bangladesh:

• Application fee: BDT 4,000 per class (for individuals); BDT 8,000 per class (for companies/entities)
• Registration fee: BDT 6,000 per class (upon acceptance, before certificate issuance)
• Renewal fee (every 10 years): BDT 6,000–8,000 per class depending on entity type

These are government fees only. Professional fees of a trademark agent or lawyer are additional. Fees are subject to revision — confirm current rates at the DPDT website or through your lawyer before filing.

Note: If you need to register your trademark in multiple classes (e.g., both clothing and retail services), each class requires a separate application and fee.

To file a trademark application in Bangladesh, you will need:

• TM-1 Form (available from DPDT or prepared by your lawyer)
• Clear representation of the trademark (logo/word — in specified format)
• List of goods/services and their Nice Classification class numbers
• Power of Attorney authorising your trademark agent/lawyer to file on your behalf
• NID (for individuals) or Certificate of Incorporation (for companies)
• Trade licence copy (recommended)
• Proof of use (if claiming prior use — invoices, advertisements, photos)
• Government fee payment receipt (treasury challan or online payment confirmation)

The trademark registration timeline in Bangladesh:

• Filing to examination: 3–6 months
• Examination to Gazette publication (if accepted): 3–6 months
• Opposition period: 2 months from Gazette publication
• Registration certificate: 1–2 months after opposition period closes
• Total typical timeline: 18–36 months end-to-end

While registration takes time, the date of application filing becomes your priority date — you are legally protected as if the trademark was registered from the filing date, once registration is eventually granted. This is why it is important to file as early as possible, especially for a new business.

The Nice Classification divides all goods and services into 45 classes (1–34 for goods; 35–45 for services). Choosing the wrong class is a costly mistake — you will not be protected for goods/services outside your registered class(es). Common classes for Bangladesh businesses include:

• Class 25: Clothing and apparel (ready-made garments, RMG)
• Class 30: Food products (biscuits, rice, tea, spices)
• Class 35: Retail and advertising services
• Class 38: Telecommunications services
• Class 42: IT and software services
• Class 44: Medical and healthcare services

Your corporate lawyer in Dhaka will analyse your business model and recommend the correct class or combination of classes to ensure comprehensive protection.

Once your trademark is registered, you have powerful legal remedies against infringers:

• Civil suit for infringement: You can file a civil suit in the District Court (or High Court Division if the case warrants) seeking an injunction to stop the infringement, damages or account of profits, and delivery up or destruction of infringing goods.
• Criminal complaint: The Trademarks Act 2009 provides criminal penalties for trademark infringement — imprisonment of up to 2 years and/or fines. Criminal complaints can be filed before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM).
• Customs seizure: Registered trademark owners can record their mark with Customs, enabling authorities to seize imported counterfeit goods at the border.
• Interim injunction: Courts can grant urgent ex parte interim injunctions — stopping infringement immediately without waiting for the defendant's reply — in cases of clear trademark violation.

Contact Adv. Shah Alam if you need to take enforcement action against a trademark infringer or if you have received a cease-and-desist letter from a trademark owner.

No, registration is not legally mandatory to run a business. However, without registration, you have very limited protection against competitors who copy your brand name or logo. Registration is strongly recommended as soon as you launch any brand, product, or service.

Yes. If you have been using a mark for years without registering, you can still apply to register it. Proof of prior use actually strengthens your application. However, if a third party has already registered the same or similar mark, you may face complications.

A registered trademark in Bangladesh is valid for 10 years from the date of application. It can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods upon payment of the renewal fee. Failure to renew results in the mark being removed from the register.

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can register trademarks in Bangladesh through a local trademark agent or lawyer. Bangladesh is also a signatory to the Paris Convention, allowing foreign trademark holders to claim priority from their home country application.

™ (TM) indicates that you claim rights in the mark — it can be used even without registration. ® (R in a circle) may only be used legally after the trademark is officially registered with the DPDT. Using ® before registration is an offence under the Trademarks Act 2009.

Yes. Once a trademark is published in the Bangladesh Gazette, you have 2 months to file a Notice of Opposition if you believe the registration should not be granted — for example, because it conflicts with your already-registered mark or one that you have used extensively.