The short answer
Bangladesh's patent, design and trademark office (DPDT) now runs on IPAS 4.0, a system made by WIPO. It is meant to take an application from filing to certificate in one system. The law has not changed, but the way your file moves has.
What IPAS 4.0 is
IPAS stands for Industrial Property Administration System. It is software built by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and already used by IP offices in other countries. Bangladesh's Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) has moved to version 4.0, and a launch ceremony took place in May 2025.
In plain words: the same system now carries a file for a trademark, a patent or an industrial design from the first application to examination and the final certificate. Less of the work depends on paper and on a clerk's memory.
What the system is reported to handle
- Registration of patents, trademarks and industrial designs in one system.
- Examination, amendments and licensing steps.
- An online path from application to examination and certificate issue.
- Searching for similar earlier rights, with better transparency.
- Less manual work for DPDT officials.
These points come from a July 2025 trade report by Asia IP. That report does not say that online payment or live status tracking is available, so we do not claim it here.
What it means for applicants
Brand owners
Cleaner records
Trademark files held in one system should make it easier to see what is filed, published or opposed. Still, check your own file regularly.
Inventors and designers
Same office, new tool
Patent and design applications go through the same office. The legal tests come from the Patent Act 2023 and the Designs Act 2023, not from the software.
Foreign companies
Use a local agent
The system does not remove the need for a Bangladesh address for service and a local representative.
Everyone
Transition risk
A Dhaka IP lawyer quoted in the report warned that the office has relied heavily on manual workflows, so staff training will decide how smooth the change is.
What to do now
Keep your own record
- Save the application number, filing date and every receipt or notice you receive.
Check the journal and your file
- Do not wait for a letter. Look for your mark in the DPDT journal and ask your agent for the file status.
Confirm current filing steps with DPDT
- Forms, fees and the online route can change after a system upgrade. Confirm them on the DPDT website or with your agent before you file.
We do not quote fees here. Different sources give different figures, so please use our cost guide or ask us for a current quote.
Questions about IPAS 4.0
Is IPAS 4.0 a new law?
No. It is software used by the DPDT. The law stays the same: Trademarks Act 2009, Patent Act 2023, Designs Act 2023.
Who made IPAS?
WIPO developed it and many offices around the world use it.
Do I still need a local agent?
Yes. A foreign applicant needs a Bangladesh address for service, and an agent handles it. See our guide on trademark representatives.
Can I file everything online now?
The report describes an online path from application to certificate, but exact steps can change. Ask us or check the DPDT website before you file.
Need help with a DPDT filing?
Our team files and follows trademarks, patents and designs in Bangladesh and tracks every notice for you.
