Trademark Renewal in Bangladesh: Cost & Guide | SUPREMEiP®

A registered trademark in Bangladesh is initially valid for 7 years from the registration date (filing date or priority date) under Section 20 of the Trademarks Act, 2009. After this initial period, it can be renewed for 10 years at a time indefinitely, provided renewal fees are paid on time. There is no cap on the number of renewals, meaning trademark protection can last forever with timely renewals.

Under Section 20 of the Trademarks Act, 2009, the "Registration Date" is the filing date of the Bangladesh application — or, if a Paris Convention priority is claimed, the priority date (date of the original foreign application). Crucially, the certificate issue date is NOT the registration date. The DPDT often issues the certificate months or years after the filing date, but your renewal deadline is always calculated from the earlier filing or priority date, not from the date printed on the certificate.

The stage-by-stage procedure is: (1) Confirm your renewal deadline — identify the registration date (filing/priority date) and calculate expiry; (2) Prepare documents — TM-12 or TM-17 renewal form, registration details, and a simple signed Power of Attorney; (3) Pay the official fee — $255 per class to the DPDT; (4) Submit the application to the DPDT physically or online via WIPO IPAS; (5) Await DPDT verification — typically 3–6 months; (6) Receive the Certificate of Renewal confirming 10 more years of protection.

Bangladesh trademark law provides a six (6) month grace period after the expiry date. During this window, the trademark owner can still file for renewal by paying the standard renewal fee ($255 per class) plus a late penalty of $65 per class. Filing within the grace period keeps the trademark active without any gap in rights. After the grace period, the mark is removed from the register and restoration proceedings are required.

If both the renewal deadline and the 6-month grace period are missed, the trademark is removed from the register and all exclusive rights lapse. The owner may then apply for restoration within one (1) year from the date of removal by filing a restoration application with an explanation of why the renewal was not filed on time, along with payment of additional fees. Restoration is subject to the Registrar's approval. In practice, if the DPDT has not yet formally removed the mark due to workload backlogs, late renewal with a fine may still be possible — but this is not guaranteed by law.

The official government renewal fee is $255 per class. If filing within the 6-month grace period, an additional late penalty fee of $65 per class applies on top of the standard fee. Professional service charges from an IP law firm are separate and vary depending on complexity and the number of classes. 15% VAT also applies on all legal service fees.

The DPDT uses Form TM-12 as the standard application form for trademark renewal in Bangladesh under the Trademark Rules, 2015. Form TM-17 is used for late renewal (i.e., renewal filed after the due date but within the grace period). The correct form must be completed accurately with the trademark number, class(es), owner's details, and goods/services covered. Filing the wrong form can cause delays or procedural rejections.

Yes, if the renewal application is filed by an attorney or authorized agent on behalf of the trademark owner, a Power of Attorney (PoA) is required. For renewal purposes, a simple & scanned signed PoA is sufficient — it does not need to be notarised, apostilled, or legalised. A scanned copy is acceptable. The PoA must clearly identify the trademark owner, the attorney, and the scope of authority granted.

The original registration certificate is generally not required at the time of submitting a renewal application. The DPDT can verify all relevant details from its own register using the trademark registration number. However, in special circumstances — such as disputes regarding ownership, discrepancies in recorded details, or where the certificate is relevant to an ongoing proceeding — the DPDT may request the original certificate.

The DPDT typically takes 3 to 18 months to process a trademark renewal application and issue the Certificate of Renewal. Processing times can vary depending on the DPDT's current workload and the volume of pending applications. Applications filed through the new WIPO IPAS online system may sometimes be processed faster. The trademark remains valid during this processing period — the renewal is legally effective from the date the application and fee were submitted.

Yes. Since 2024/2025, the DPDT has introduced an online filing system developed under WIPO's IPAS (Industrial Property Automation System) platform. Trademark renewals, along with other DPDT filings, can now be submitted electronically through this system. Online filing reduces administrative delays and provides a more transparent tracking process. However, physical filing at the DPDT office in Dhaka remains available as an alternative option.

Yes. Upon successful processing, the DPDT issues an official Certificate of Renewal — a paper document confirming that the trademark's validity has been extended for another 10 years. This certificate is essential proof of an active, valid trademark and should be retained carefully. It may be required for legal enforcement actions, opposition proceedings, licensing arrangements, or border protection purposes at Bangladesh Customs.

Yes. The Trademarks Act, 2009 does not impose any limit on the number of times a trademark can be renewed. After the initial 7-year term, trademarks are renewable in 10-year cycles indefinitely, as long as renewal fees are paid on time. This is a fundamental advantage of trademark protection compared to other IP rights such as patents, which have a fixed statutory maximum term of 20 years.

It is strongly recommended to begin renewal preparations at least 6 months before the expiry date. Early preparation allows sufficient time to gather documents, prepare the PoA, arrange payment, and submit the application without rushing. If you engage an IP law firm, contacting them at least 3–6 months in advance gives them adequate time to handle the formalities efficiently and track any DPDT queries or delays in processing.

Yes. The DPDT accepts renewal applications filed before the expiry date. Filing early is the best practice and ensures that there is no risk of the mark lapsing due to administrative or processing delays. However, the renewed term will commence from the date of the current registration's expiry — meaning filing early does not extend the total protection period beyond what you are entitled to. Trademark renewal cannot be filed before the registration has been formally granted and the certificate issued.

The status "TM To Check for Expiration" in the DPDT system means the renewal due date has passed and the owner did not renew within the grace period — but the trademark has not yet been formally struck from the register. In practice, the trademark is still treated as active and the DPDT often allows late renewal on payment of a fine under its internal administrative procedures. However, there is no specific statutory provision guaranteeing this option. If challenged in the High Court, the court would determine validity. Trademark owners in this status should act urgently and may also consider filing a fresh application as a precautionary safeguard.

If a trademark has been removed from the DPDT register due to non-renewal, the owner may apply for restoration within one (1) year from the date of removal. The restoration application must include: (1) a written explanation of why the renewal was not filed on time; (2) the standard renewal fee; and (3) additional restoration fees as prescribed. Restoration is not automatic — it is subject to the Registrar's approval. If granted, the mark is reinstated in the register and protection continues as if there had been no lapse.

This situation arises when the DPDT's processing backlog causes the registration certificate to be issued after the renewal due date has already passed. In such cases, the DPDT's administrative practice allows the owner a one-month grace period from the date of receiving the certificate to pay the renewal fee without incurring a late penalty. This pragmatic approach prevents trademark owners from being penalised for delays that are entirely caused by the IP Office's own processing timeline — not by the owner's negligence.

No. Trademark renewal is only possible after the trademark application has been successfully examined, published, and registered — and the Registration Certificate has been formally issued by the DPDT. Renewal fees cannot be accepted or processed while an application is still pending examination, awaiting publication, or subject to opposition proceedings. The renewal cycle only begins once the trademark has the status of "Registered."

Trademark renewal is not a mere administrative formality — it is essential for preserving exclusive rights over your brand. Without renewal, businesses risk: (1) losing the legal right to prevent competitors from registering or using identical or similar marks; (2) being unable to take legal action against counterfeiters or infringers; (3) losing the brand's commercial goodwill and market reputation built over years; and (4) having the mark become available for competitors to register. Timely renewal also maintains the mark's status as valid evidence in court and its value as a licensed or assigned commercial asset.

A 15% VAT (Value Added Tax) applies to the official DPDT government fees for trademark renewal under Bangladeshi tax law. Clients should factor both government fees (with VAT) and professional charges when budgeting for trademark renewal.

Foreign companies and non-resident trademark owners are strongly advised — and in practice required — to appoint a locally registered IP attorney or trademark agent in Bangladesh to handle the renewal. The DPDT's procedures are conducted in Dhaka, and filings must comply with local formalities under the Trademark Rules, 2015. While the online IPAS system has made some aspects of filing more accessible, all correspondence with the DPDT, handling of official receipts, and responses to any procedural queries are best managed by a qualified local IP law firm.

Trademark renewal fees in Bangladesh are charged per class. If your trademark is registered across multiple NICE Classification classes (e.g., Classes 25 and 35), you must pay the renewal fee of $255 for each class separately. Similarly, the late penalty fee of $65 applies per class during the grace period. The total renewal cost therefore depends on the number of classes in which the mark is registered.

Renewal in Bangladesh is intended to maintain the existing trademark registration as it stands. The renewal application must reflect the mark as currently registered, including the same class(es) and goods/services specification. You may not broaden the specification at renewal. While it is possible to restrict the goods/services (narrow them), such changes would typically need to be processed separately as a formal amendment to the register, not as part of the routine renewal filing.

The DPDT's renewal process does not require proof of use as a condition of renewal. A trademark can be renewed even if it has not been used in commerce. However, non-use of a trademark for 3 or more continuous years renders it vulnerable to a cancellation or removal action by a third party under Section 46 of the Trademarks Act, 2009. This means the mark can be renewed, but a separate cancellation proceeding filed by a competitor based on non-use remains a risk that should be managed proactively.

Trademark registration is the initial process of applying to the DPDT for protection of a new mark — involving filing a TM-1 application, examination, publication, opposition period, and eventual registration. It typically takes 2–4 years or more in Bangladesh due to processing backlogs. Trademark renewal, by contrast, is a simpler administrative process for an already registered mark — it does not involve re-examination or re-publication. Renewal simply extends the validity of the existing registration for another 10 years upon payment of the prescribed fee.

No — they are completely different processes. A new trademark application involves submitting the mark for the first time, going through substantive examination, publication in the Trademarks Journal, a potential 2-month opposition period, and registration only after no opposition succeeds. A renewal does not re-examine the mark, does not involve fresh publication, and does not open a new opposition window. The existing registered trademark is simply extended in duration. Filing a fresh application instead of renewing would mean losing the original priority date and starting the protection term from scratch.

A change of trademark ownership (through assignment or transfer) is a separate proceeding from renewal and must be recorded at the DPDT before or separately from the renewal filing. The renewal should be filed by the current registered owner at the time of filing. If an assignment has occurred but has not yet been formally recorded at the DPDT, it is advisable to complete the recordal of the assignment first (using Form TM-16) and then file the renewal under the new owner's name to avoid any procedural complications.

Yes — in practice, the renewed term in Bangladesh commences from the date of expiry of the previous term, not from the date the Certificate of Renewal is issued by the DPDT. This means even if the DPDT takes 6 months to process and issue the certificate, the next 10-year renewal period is calculated from the original expiry date. This approach ensures continuity of protection without any gap, and the owner's rights are deemed to have been active throughout the period since expiry.

Yes. Upon payment of the renewal fee for each registered class, the trademark's protection is extended for all goods and services listed under that class in the original or most recently amended registration. There is no requirement to respecify or selectively renew particular items within a class. However, if you wish to add additional goods or services beyond what is currently registered, that requires a new trademark application — not a renewal.

Trademark renewal in Bangladesh is governed primarily by Section 20 of the Trademarks Act, 2009 (which defines the registration date and the initial 7-year validity period) and the corresponding provisions of the Trademark Rules, 2015 (which prescribe the renewal forms, fees, and procedures). The grace period for late renewal and the restoration process are also addressed under the Act and Rules. These statutory provisions form the complete legal framework for trademark maintenance in Bangladesh.

SUPREMEiP is a specialist IP law firm based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with extensive experience in DPDT trademark prosecution and portfolio management including renewal filings. Our approach: (1) we calculate your exact renewal deadline from the correct registration date; (2) send reminders well in advance; (3) prepare and file all DPDT renewal documents on your behalf; (4) handle fee payment and obtain the official acknowledgement; (5) monitor DPDT processing; and (6) deliver the Renewal Certificate to you upon issuance. We manage renewal portfolios for clients across Bangladesh, South Asia, and internationally. Contact us at info@supremeip.com or +8801613336333 for a consultation.