Patent Registration in Bangladesh

Patent registration in Bangladesh is handled by the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Ministry of Industries. The Bangladesh Patent Act 2022 replaced the old Patents and Designs Act 1911 for patents and brought the law closer to international practice, including clearer patentability criteria and examination. Filing early matters.

A patent gives its owner the right to stop others from making, using, selling or importing the protected invention in Bangladesh for the patent term. It is territorial: a patent granted abroad does not protect you here, and a Bangladesh patent does not protect you abroad. Local inventors, universities and foreign applicants extending their international filings all use the same DPDT route.

What can be patented in Bangladesh

An invention can be a product or a process in any field of technology, provided it meets three tests. It must be new, meaning not disclosed to the public anywhere before the filing or priority date. It must involve an inventive step, meaning it would not be obvious to a skilled person in that field. And it must be capable of industrial application.

The Act excludes certain subject matter, such as discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods as such, and other categories listed in the law. Whether software, business methods or medical methods qualify depends on how the invention is framed and on the statutory exclusions, so we assess each case before drafting.

Before you file: novelty and disclosure

The most common way inventors lose patent rights is by disclosing the invention before filing, through a trade fair, a published paper, a sales brochure or an online post. Keep the invention confidential and use non-disclosure agreements with manufacturers and investors until the application is filed.

A prior-art search in international patent databases and published literature helps judge whether the invention is genuinely new and how broad the claims can realistically be. It is not mandatory, but it saves money on applications that would fail examination.

Documents for patent registration

• Application form in the prescribed format with applicant and inventor details
• Complete specification: title, technical field, background, description of the invention and best method of performing it
• Claims defining the scope of protection, which are the legally decisive part
• Abstract and drawings where needed to understand the invention
• Power of attorney if filed through an agent, and assignment or proof of right if the applicant is not the inventor
• Priority document and translation if claiming priority from an earlier foreign application
• Payment of the prescribed filing fee

Priority claims for foreign applicants

Bangladesh is a member of the Paris Convention, so an applicant who first filed in another member country can generally claim that earlier filing date if the Bangladesh application is filed within twelve months. This keeps the invention's novelty assessed as of the first filing. Missing the window means the application is judged against everything published in the meantime, including your own foreign publication.

Examination, publication and grant

After filing, DPDT checks formalities and then examines the application for patentability. The examiner may issue objections, and the applicant responds with arguments or amended claims within the time allowed. Accepted applications are published, which opens a window for third-party opposition under the Act. If no opposition succeeds, the patent is granted and recorded in the register.

Once granted, the patent must be kept in force by paying annual fees as prescribed. Non-payment causes the patent to lapse. The owner can license or assign the patent, and assignments and licences should be recorded with DPDT.

Common mistakes

• Publicly disclosing or selling the invention before filing
• Claims drafted so narrowly that competitors can design around them, or so broadly that they fail examination
• Missing the twelve-month Paris Convention priority deadline
• No written assignment from employees or contractors who contributed to the invention
• Forgetting annual fees after grant

How the process works

1. Invention reviewWe discuss the invention under a confidentiality undertaking and assess whether it falls within patentable subject matter.
2. Prior-art searchWhere useful, a search of patent databases and literature helps judge novelty and shape the claims.
3. DraftingThe specification, claims, abstract and drawings are prepared with a patent specialist, in line with DPDT requirements.
4. Filing at DPDTThe application, priority documents and fees are filed and the filing date is secured.
5. Examination responsesWe track the file and prepare responses to any examiner objections or oppositions.
6. Grant and maintenanceAfter grant we record the patent and diarise annual fees and any licensing filings.

Typical timeline: Securing a filing date can be done quickly once the specification is ready, but examination and grant usually take many months to a few years, depending on the technology, objections raised and DPDT's processing.

How Tax & VAT Associates helps

• Initial patentability assessment and confidentiality guidance before disclosure
• Coordination of prior-art searches and specification drafting with patent specialists
• Filing at DPDT, including Paris Convention priority claims for foreign applicants
• Docketing of examination deadlines and preparation of responses
• Annual fee reminders, assignment and licence recordal after grant

Frequently asked questions

Related services

Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. Bangladesh tax and regulatory rules change with each Finance Act, SRO and authority circular. This page is general guidance; confirm current requirements for your case before filing.