Industrial Design Registration in Bangladesh: Step-by-Step Process

July 10, 2026

The Bangladesh Industrial Design Act, 2023 sets out a clear and structured process for registering industrial designs. It aims to protect designs that are new, original, and visually appealing. This article provides a step-by-step guide to the registration process—from filing to certification—based on Sections 7 to 15of the Act.

✅ Step 1: Application Submission & Filing Date Recognition

(Covers Sections 7 & 8 of the Bangladesh Industrial Design Act, 2023)

📝 1. Who Can Apply?

According to Section 7(2):

• The original creator (designer) of the industrial design;
• A person who has acquired the design rights through a legal assignment;
• Legal representative of the deceased designer;
• In the case of joint designers, any or all of them jointly;
• In the case of companies, the authorized person.

📂 2. What Must the Application Contain?

Under Section 7(1) and relevant rules, an industrial design application must include:

📍 3. Filing Method

• The application must be filed physically or electronically with the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT).
• If filed electronically, digital copies of design drawings must meet the required DPI, size, and clarity standards.

📆 4. Filing Date Recognition (Section 8)

• The official date of filing is recognized only after:
  • All mandatory elements (as per Section 7) are submitted;
  • The application is complete in form and the prescribed fees are paid.
• This filing date is critical, as it determines:
  • Priority rights;
  • Start of protection upon registration;
  • Examination timelines;
  • Deadline for claiming foreign priority (within 6 months).

🔁 5. Multiple Designs in One Application

• Under Section 7(3), the applicant may include multiple articles in a single application only if the design remains the same.
• If the designs differ by product category or concept, separate applications must be filed.

⚠️ 6. Incomplete Applications

• If the application lacks mandatory elements (e.g., missing design representation, wrong fee), the DPDT will issue a notice of deficiency.
• The applicant has 3 months to correct it (extendable by 2 months with justification).

🛡️ 7. Importance of Filing Date

• The filing date acts as the legal cut-off for evaluating the novelty of the design.
• Any design disclosed before the filing date may invalidate the application unless priority is properly claimed.

📎 Summary Checklist for Step 1:

• [✅] Complete Form with Applicant Info
• [✅] Multiple Design Views Attached
• [✅] Mention of Article(s) Covered
• [✅] Optional Novelty Statement
• [✅] Fee Paid
• [✅] Priority Documents (if claimed)
• [✅] Filing Date Confirmed by DPDT