Bangladesh

Panellists at a virtual discussion hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in August 2021 suggested that Bangladesh has a significant ways to go to strengthen its IP system to a level at which IP rights owners will feel comfortable that their IP is being properly protected. “Relevant IPR law-related statutes are in place, along with the international treaties that Bangladesh is a signatory to, which collectively form the IPR legal framework,” said AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed. “However, the overall importance for the IPR protection, encouraging innovation and technology transfer and the level of awareness of the stakeholders need to be strengthened.” Bangladesh has numerous fine lawyers – mostly in Dhaka, but some are based in Chittagong – who should be able to resolve most IP matters.

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Lawyers at A Hossain & Associates regularly review contracts and advise on the permissibility of company names, copyright, patents and trademarks. Senior partner Ajmalul Hossain, the first Queen’s Counsel in England of Bangladeshi origin, is also a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He practices in London from Selborne Chambers, and from A Hossain & Associates in Bangladesh and Singapore. Associate Syed Ahrarul Hossain is a contact for the firm’s IP practice.

Accord Chambers in Dhaka bills itself as a “reformist law firm” working for domestic and international clients, including its work in litigious and non-litigious intellectual property and trademarks work. Mohammad Saiful Haque is a key IP contact; Haque has represented British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BAT) as its legal counsel in multiple litigations in the District Courts across Bangladesh and an international VoIP calling services provider in a litigation against the government-owned Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) arising from a telecom law dispute. 

Advocates IP Law Alliance is a leading IP firm in Dhaka that provides global clients the expertise required to protect their names, trademarks and patents. Delwar Hossain is the key contact of the firm.

Amir & Amir Law Associates is one of the oldest and largest law firms in Bangladesh. Many of the firm’s lawyers have gone on to hold constitutional and public offices, including the office of the chief justice and speaker of the Parliament. The firm’s partners have contributed to the redrafting of legislation and have also been involved in a number of landmark cases. Advocate KM Nurul Islam is a key IP contact.

Attorneys & Associates of IP Laws is based in Dhaka specializing in patent and trademark registrations, as well as other forms of IP protection such as copyright. The firm is run by seven partners, with every one of them having over 15 years of experience working in the IP sector. Partner Mirza Zahiruddin Ahmed is a key contact of the firm.

With over a decade of experience, Bepary & Bepary specializes in IP protection of all kinds, such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and domain names.

 Doulah & Doulah is one of the oldest law firms in Bangladesh. Established in 1965, the full-service firm today handles a wide variety of matters for a diverse mix of Fortune 500 companies, local companies and large law firms. The firm has worked with clients including Nokia, Sony, Toshiba, McDonalds, the New Zealand Dairy Board, Gillette, and British American Tobacco on large-scale infringement matters. A.B.M. Shamsud Doulah, advocate and senior partner, is a well-known figure on corporate matters including litigation and arbitration pertaining to intellectual property and commercial law.

Dr. Kamal Hossain & Associates is a full-service firm based in Dhaka. The firm is experienced in conducting litigation arising out of and in connection with trademarks, patents and copyright disputes both in the Supreme Court as well as before trial courts and concerned authorities. Partner Sharif Bhuiyan and Md. Ramzan Ali Sikder have experience in intellectual property, corporate and commercial work.

Four partners, 29 associates, eight other legal professionals and five support staff comprise FM Associates, which provides legal support to all kinds of companies in Bangladesh. Its IP services include registration, renewal and rectification of trademark, patent as well as copyright. Key contacts include Al Amin Rahman, Sarjean Rahman Lian, Md Habebur Rahman and Ahmed Nadim Abdullah.

Founded in 1957, H & H Company offers a full range of services in connection with trademark, patent, design and copyright matters. The firm also performs searches, renewals and monitoring of its clients’ patents, trademarks and registered designs. Partner M. Rezwanul Haque is a key contact for IP matters. Managing partner Kazi F. Bari holds the helm at Chittagong-based KA Bari & Co. The IP specialist firm is noted for its IP litigation work in trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has 26 attorneys who are registered to practice before the Trade Mark Registry & Patent Office of Bangladesh.

Providing services in the fields of trademark, industrial design, patent, copyright and domain name, Munshi & Associates is a leading IP law firm established in 2004 under the supervision of Md. Solaiman Munshi, advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. The firm prides itself on combing the sophistication and expertise of a large firm with the responsiveness to clients and reason-able cost of a boutique firm.

Rahman’s Chambers is a large, full-service law firm comprising of 17 lawyers and additional support staff serving clients from six different locations in Dhaka, Chittagong and Dinajpur. The firm handles IP and information technology law, as well as a host of commercial law matters. The firm’s IP practice has advised Unitex Group on several franchise agreements involving “Unigas” as a franchisor. It has handled trademark registration matters for numerous clients and has drafted franchise agreements for numerous companies. IP clients include Unitex, Music Group IP, Sabrostar Fruit and the UAE Bangladesh Investment Co., Ltd. (UBICO).

Remfry & Son traces its roots to 1827 in British India; the firm has been advising on matters of law in Bangladesh since the country’s formation in 1971. The firm is noted for its work in trademark, patent, copyright and domain name management. S Hossain & Associates is a full-service law firm whose IP practice helps national and international clients with their IP related matters including managing trademark registrations under the Trade Marks Act 2009 and pursuing infringement and passing off claims. Managing partner Md. Sanwar Hossain is experienced in foreign investment and litigation cases and is a researcher on South Asian legal regimes at the Yunnan University in Kunming.

Sattar & Co. is a high-calibre, full-service law firm with specializations in IP; media, entertainment and gaming laws; telecommunications law; and information and cyber law, as well as general corporate law. Consultant Md. Rafiqul Alam is a key contact for IP matters. Head of firm Sameer Sattar is a world class litigator and dispute resolution expert who has worked on arbitration conducted in all major venues arising out of a broad range of transactions.

Managing partner Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin is a key contact at Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates for media, telecommunications and technology law. Tanjib Alam & Associates are particularly known for their work on patents, having performed patent assessments in a wide variety of contexts, including for both offensive and defensive litigation purposes, freedom to operate, in and out-licensing and IP due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. The firm has experts in virtually every field of technology. The firm also prosecutes trademark applications, and has litigators experienced in both trademark and patent matters. Senior associate Kazi Ershadul Alam is a key intellectual property contact at the firm.