Trademark Registration in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, trademark registration is mandatory to be granted rights over a trademark, as it is a “first-to-file” jurisdiction. Only in some exceptional cases can an unregistered trademark be protected.

Trademark applications must be filed with the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, also known as DPDT of the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh.

If you register a combined trademark (which includes both word and figurative elements) in Bangladesh, your exclusive right is limited to the exact configuration in which the mark is filed and registered. If you wish to protect the word element and the logo separately, it is advisable to file separate trademark applications for those elements.

To register a trademark in Bangladesh, you will generally need:

• Scanned copy of a signed Power of Attorney. No notarization or legalization required.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The average application process in Bangladesh takes approximately 9 months for straightforward cases, based on current timeframes. The actual duration may vary depending on the circumstances of each application.

Once the trademark is successfully registered in Bangladesh:

• It is valid for 7 years from the application date.
• It can then be renewed indefinitely for further periods of 10 years each.
• There is no grace period for late renewal. If a trademark is not renewed before its expiry date, it cannot be renewed later, and the owner would need to file a new trademark application to regain protection.

A final registration fee is payable only in case of successful registration, per class.

Yes. If a third party attempts to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark, you have the right to oppose the application based on confusing similarity.

• Opposition actions may be filed by interested third parties within two (2) months from the date the application is published in the Trade Mark Journal.
• Upon request, an extension of time of one (1) additional month may be granted.

The chances of success for an opposition will vary in each case depending on the evidence and specific circumstances.

A trademark does not need to be in use in Bangladesh in order to be registered.

However, if the trademark is not used for more than five (5) consecutive years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions based on lack of use. To avoid this, the mark should be used on a commercial scale in Bangladesh.