RJSC is the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, the government office in Bangladesh that registers companies, partnership firms, societies and trade organisations and keeps their public records. It operates under the Ministry of Commerce, administers the Companies Act 1994, Partnership Act 1932 and Societies Registration Act 1860, and handles name clearance, incorporation, annual returns, changes and certified copies, largely through its online portal.
RJSC, the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, is the first government office most Bangladeshi businesses deal with and the one whose records banks, NBR, BIDA and foreign partners rely on to confirm who owns and runs a company. Its head office is in Dhaka, with registration offices in other divisions, and most applications are now made through its online system.
This page explains what RJSC does, which entities and changes it records, and the practical issues people face when dealing with it. It suits founders registering for the first time, finance teams handling post-incorporation filings and foreign investors who need to understand what the RJSC record shows about their Bangladeshi company.
On this page
What RJSC registers
- Private limited companies and public limited companies under the Companies Act 1994
- One Person Companies (OPC), introduced into the Companies Act 1994 by amendment
- Branch, liaison and representative offices of foreign companies, which file their documents with RJSC after BIDA permission
- Companies limited by guarantee, often used for non-profit or association purposes
- Partnership firms under the Partnership Act 1932
- Societies under the Societies Registration Act 1860
- Trade organisations, with a licence from the Ministry of Commerce
Core RJSC services
RJSC's work falls into three groups. Pre-registration: name clearance, which reserves a proposed name. Registration: incorporation of companies, registration of firms and societies, and issue of the certificate of incorporation or registration. Post-registration: recording annual returns such as Schedule X, event-based filings such as Form XII for director changes and Form XV for allotments, approval of amendments to the Memorandum or Articles, registration of charges, change of name, conversion between private and public status, winding up records, and issue of certified copies of documents on file.
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Common RJSC forms and what they record
- Form I: declaration of compliance at incorporation
- Form VI: notice of situation or change of registered office
- Form IX: consent of directors to act
- Form XII: particulars of directors, managers and managing agents, and changes
- Form XV: return of allotment of shares
- Form 117: instrument of share transfer
- Schedule X: annual list of members and summary of share capital
How the RJSC online system works in practice
Applications are created on the RJSC online portal, documents are uploaded, government fees are paid through designated banks or online channels, and the application then moves through scrutiny. Queries raised by RJSC officials must be answered before approval, and signed hard copies are sometimes still requested for certain filings. Fees are set by RJSC's schedule and should be checked at the time of filing, because they vary by authorised capital, filing type and delay.
A practical point that is often overlooked: the company's RJSC portal account is an asset in its own right. Login credentials should be held by the company, not by an individual employee or an outside agent who may become unreachable, and contact details on the account should be kept current so that RJSC notifications actually reach the directors. Recovering lost access can delay urgent filings by days or weeks.
Problems we often fix at RJSC
- Shareholding on the RJSC record that does not match the company's own share register
- Directors who resigned years ago still shown on the RJSC record
- Annual returns missing for several years, blocking new filings or certified copies
- Login credentials for the company's RJSC account held by a former employee or agent
- Typing errors in names, passport numbers or addresses carried from incorporation
How the process works
- Search the recordWe check the company's current RJSC record and filing history to understand its legal status.
- Identify the filingThe correct form or application is chosen based on the event, the articles of association and the Companies Act 1994.
- Prepare documentsForms, resolutions, consents and supporting documents are drafted and sent to you for signature.
- Submit and payWe submit online, arrange payment of RJSC fees and record the application reference.
- Respond to queriesAny RJSC queries are answered promptly until the filing is accepted or the certificate issued.
- Close the fileAcknowledgements and certificates are delivered and your corporate records are updated.
Typical timeline: Simple RJSC filings are often processed within several working days, while incorporations, amendments and corrections of historical errors can take longer, depending on document quality and RJSC's processing.
How Tax & VAT Associates helps
- RJSC record search and status report for your company
- Name clearance, incorporation and registration applications
- Annual and event-based RJSC filings with signed resolutions
- Correction of historical RJSC record errors and overdue filings
- Certified copies of incorporation and filed documents
- Recovery and secure management of the company's RJSC portal access
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of RJSC in Bangladesh?
RJSC stands for the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms. It is the statutory registry under the Ministry of Commerce responsible for registering and maintaining records of companies, partnership firms, societies and trade organisations in Bangladesh. Its records are the reference point banks and other authorities use to verify a company.
Can I check a company's details on RJSC online?
Basic information such as the company name and registration number can be checked through RJSC's online search. Detailed information like current directors or shareholding generally requires certified copies of filed documents, which are requested through RJSC and issued on payment of the prescribed fee.
Does RJSC registration replace a trade licence or TIN?
No. RJSC gives the company its legal existence, but the company still needs a trade licence from the local authority, an e-TIN from NBR, a BIN for VAT where applicable, and any sector licences before trading. Banks typically ask for all of these when opening accounts.
Do foreigners need to visit RJSC in person?
Generally not. Most RJSC work is done online through an authorised representative, with documents signed abroad and, where required, notarised and attested. Foreign directors and shareholders mainly need valid passports and properly executed documents, and inward remittance of capital is handled through a Bangladeshi bank.
What happens if a company does not file with RJSC for years?
Late fees accumulate, certified copies and new filings may be blocked until arrears are cleared, and RJSC can in some cases take steps to strike off a defunct company. Directors can also face penalties under the Companies Act 1994. Most backlogs can be regularised by filing the overdue returns with applicable fees.
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Learn more →Last reviewed: . 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.