Patent Filing in Bangladesh: Patents Act 2022 Guide

Patent protection under the Patents Act, 2022

Bangladesh's Patents Act, 2022 replaced the patent provisions of the colonial-era Patents and Designs Act, 1911 and brought the system in line with the TRIPS Agreement. Applications are filed at the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), and a granted patent lasts 20 years from the filing date.

VisionaryiP Alliance handles patent work for Bangladeshi inventors, universities and manufacturers, and acts as Bangladesh agent for foreign applicants and patent firms.

Filing from abroad? Bangladesh is not a PCT member, so there is no PCT national phase entry. File a national application at DPDT and claim Paris Convention priority within 12 months of your first application. Bangladesh has been a Paris Convention member since 1991.

How patent filing works

Patentability assessmentWe review the invention and search for prior art so you know whether it is likely to be new, inventive and industrially applicable before you spend on drafting.
Specification & claimsWe prepare or adapt the specification, drawings and claims to Bangladesh requirements, including translation and formal checks for foreign-origin cases.
Filing at DPDTWe file the application with the power of attorney and, where applicable, the priority claim and certified priority document.
ExaminationDPDT examines formalities and substance. We report every office action, recommend a response, and file amendments or arguments.
Grant & maintenanceOnce granted, the patent must be kept in force with annual fees. We diarise and pay them for you.

What you need to file

Applicant and inventor names, addresses and nationalities
Specification with description, claims and abstract
Drawings, where needed to understand the invention
Signed power of attorney
Priority details and certified copy, if claiming priority
Assignment / proof of right to apply, if the applicant is not the inventor

Our patent services

Searches: patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement and invalidity searches
Prosecution: filing, office-action responses, amendments and grant
Pharmaceutical IP: portfolio and FTO reviews in light of Bangladesh's LDC graduation
Maintenance: annual fee management and recordals of assignments or licences
Disputes: oppositions, revocation and infringement actions

Protecting a product's look rather than how it works? See industrial design registration.

FAQ

Patent questions

Is Bangladesh a member of the PCT?

No. Bangladesh is not a Contracting State of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, so there is no PCT national phase for Bangladesh. Foreign applicants file directly at DPDT, usually claiming Paris Convention priority within 12 months of their first filing.

How long does a Bangladesh patent last?

Under the Patents Act, 2022, a patent lasts 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of the annual maintenance fees.

Can I file after I have already disclosed my invention?

Public disclosure before filing can destroy novelty. File before you publish, present at a trade fair, or sell the product. If you have already disclosed it, speak to us quickly so we can assess what can still be protected.

What happens to pharmaceutical patents after LDC graduation?

As a least developed country, Bangladesh has used TRIPS transition flexibilities for pharmaceutical products. Graduation changes that position over time. Manufacturers and foreign originators should review portfolios and freedom-to-operate now. We advise on both sides.

Can a foreign company file a patent application in Bangladesh?

Yes. Foreign applicants file through a Bangladeshi agent with a power of attorney. We act as agent of record for foreign companies and their patent attorneys, with English reporting on every office action.