A leading corporate
law firm in Bangladesh
for international clients.
LegalSeba LLP acts for multinationals, sponsors, lenders, regulators and private clients on the most significant transactions and disputes in Bangladesh. Our work spans corporate and commercial law, foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, capital markets, taxation, intellectual property, dispute resolution and global immigration — before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the principal international arbitration institutions.
§ I — The Firm
A leading corporate law firm in Bangladesh.
LegalSeba LLP is a leading corporate and commercial law firm in Bangladesh, advising multinationals, sponsors, lenders, regulators and private clients across fifteen disciplines — corporate and commercial, foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, capital markets, taxation, intellectual property, dispute resolution and global immigration among them. Headquartered in Dhaka, the firm is regularly instructed on inbound investment and the principal cross-border transactions and disputes arising in the country.
Doing business in Bangladesh requires familiarity with a layered regulatory environment — Bangladesh Bank, BIDA, BEPZA, BEZA, the BSEC, the NBR, the RJSC and a range of sectoral authorities. International clients turn to LegalSeba LLP because the firm combines transactional depth across these regulators with a substantial contentious practice before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the country’s specialist tribunals and the principal international arbitration institutions, including the ICC, SIAC and ICSID.
Our clients include strategic investors, financial sponsors, multilateral development banks, fintech operators, family offices and individuals with cross-border interests. The catalogue that follows sets out our principal practice areas, the sectors in which we advise and the discrete services within each practice. Mandates that span disciplines — a financing that turns on tax structure, a regulated transaction with an attendant dispute — are run by integrated teams rather than handed between silos.
§ II — Practice Areas
Fifteen disciplines, one firm.
LegalSeba LLP advises across fifteen practice areas, each led by senior counsel with a defined sector focus. Mandates that cut across disciplines — a financing that turns on tax structure, a regulated transaction with an attendant dispute — are run by integrated teams rather than handed between silos. The structure is what allows the firm to act as a single point of contact for complex inbound mandates that other Bangladesh law firms would distribute across multiple chambers.
Corporate & Commercial
Standing counsel to boards, shareholders and in-house teams on incorporation, governance, joint ventures, group reorganisations and the full range of commercial agreements.
Project Finance & Infrastructure
Sponsor- and lender-side mandates on PPP, BOT and concession structures, including security packages, EPC negotiation on FIDIC standards and multilateral lender compliance.
Economic Zones & Industrial Setup
Registration, land lease and incentive negotiation under the BEPZA, BEZA and BIDA regimes, through to factory commissioning and operational compliance.
Maritime & International Trade
Admiralty proceedings, charter-party and bill of lading work, customs disputes, documentary credits and trade-remedy advisory under the WTO framework.
Financial Services & Fintech
Authorisation and product counsel for banks, NBFIs, payment system operators, e-wallet providers and digital lenders under Bangladesh Bank and MRA regimes.
Capital Markets & Securities
Equity offerings, conventional and Islamic debt issuance, BSEC compliance, DSE and CSE listings, and counsel on debt restructurings and structured products.
Tax & Wealth Management
Direct and indirect tax structuring, transfer pricing, double-taxation treaty work, succession planning and residency-based wealth strategies for international families.
Startups & Financing
Founder, employee and investor documentation through every funding round — including SAFE and convertible instruments, ESOPs, term sheets and venture fund formation.
Intellectual Property
Prosecution, portfolio management and contentious enforcement of trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and geographical indications.
Property & Real Estate
Title diligence, conveyancing, RAJUK and city corporation approvals, joint development structures and contested land litigation across the country.
Family & Private Client
Wills, trusts, family constitutions, pre- and post-nuptial arrangements and contentious matrimonial work, including matters with a cross-border element.
Labour & Employment
Service rules, expatriate work permits, executive arrangements, ESOP design and the conduct of individual and collective employment disputes.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Advocacy before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, specialist tribunals and international arbitration institutions, with a substantial regulatory and white-collar defence practice.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Buy-side and sell-side mandates on private auctions, public takeovers, carve-outs and joint ventures, with integrated tax, regulatory and competition counsel from a single team.
Global Immigration
Outbound residency, citizenship-by-investment and second-passport programmes for Bangladeshi families and executives, with reciprocal inbound work for international clients.
§ III — Industries
Sectors we know in detail.
We advise across the sectors driving inbound investment, infrastructure spend and innovation in Bangladesh — from the country’s established manufacturing and energy industries to the emerging financial-technology and venture ecosystem.
§ IV — The Catalogue
An index of our work.
Twenty-two service categories spanning the lifecycle of inbound investment in Bangladesh — entry, operation, expansion, dispute and exit. The index on the left jumps to any category.
Foreign Investment
LegalSeba LLP acts for inbound investors on regulatory mapping, holding-company architecture, Bangladesh Bank approvals, profit repatriation and the full suite of foreign-exchange controls — positioning the firm as a leading FDI counsel in Bangladesh.
- FDI & Regulatory Advisory (Bangladesh Bank)
- Optimal Legal Structures for FDI
- Business Licensing & Permits
- Tax Planning for Foreign Companies
- Profit Repatriation & Foreign Exchange
- M&A Due Diligence for Investors
- International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
- Cross-Border Financing Agreements
- External Commercial Borrowing (ECB)
Project Finance, PPP & EPC
As one of the leading project finance law firms in Bangladesh, LegalSeba LLP acts for sponsors, lenders and government counterparties on PPP, BOT and concession projects, with experience covering the full security package and FIDIC-form construction documentation.
- Project Finance & PPP Structuring (BOT, BOO, Concession)
- Non-Recourse & Limited-Recourse Financing
- Loan, Security & Intercreditor Agreements
- Direct Agreements & Step-in Rights
- EPC & Turnkey Contract Drafting (FIDIC)
- Government & Concession Agreements
- Multilateral Lender Compliance (IFC, World Bank, ADB)
- Sovereign Guarantees & Political Risk
- Project Tendering & Bid Documentation
- Project Due Diligence (Land, Permits, Environment)
- Host Government Agreements & SPV Setup
- ESG & Anti-Corruption Compliance Audits
Economic Zones & Industrial Setup
Investment registration, land lease, incentive negotiation and operational compliance under the BEPZA, BEZA and BIDA regimes.
- Investment Structuring (BEPZA, BEZA, BIDA)
- Regulatory Approvals & Licensing
- BIDA Industrial Registration
- Land Lease & Factory Setup
- Tax Holiday & Customs Incentives
- Environmental Clearance (DoE)
- EPC & Construction Contracts
- Utility Connection Support
- Bonded Warehouse Licensing
- Factory Compliance (Labour, Fire)
Maritime, Trade & Customs
Admiralty proceedings, international sale and carriage contracts, customs adjudication and counsel on trade-finance instruments.
- Admiralty & Maritime Contracts (Bills of Lading, Charter-Party)
- Vessel Arrests & Maritime Disputes
- Import / Export & Customs Compliance
- Customs Classification, Valuation & Duty Disputes
- Letter of Credit (LC) & Trade Finance Advisory
- Incoterms & International Sales Contracts
- Anti-Dumping, Subsidies & Trade Remedies (WTO)
- Sanctions & Export Control Compliance
- Ship Registration & Finance
- Marine Insurance Claims
Financial Services & Fintech
Authorisation, product and conduct counsel for banks, NBFIs, payment system operators, e-wallet providers and digital lending platforms.
- Digital Bank & NBFI Licensing
- Payment System (PSP / PSO) & E-Wallet Setup
- Fintech Product Vetting (BNPL, Digital Lending)
- Open Banking & API Agreements
- Data Protection & Cybersecurity Compliance
- AML / CFT Policy & Risk Frameworks
- Microcredit (MRA) Licence Support
Banking & Capital Markets
Equity and debt issuance, BSEC compliance, syndicated lending, conventional and Shari’ah-compliant instruments, and DSE and CSE listings.
- Debt & Equity Issuance (BSEC Compliance)
- Loan, Syndication & Security Documentation
- Islamic Finance (Sukuk, Murabaha)
- Investment Fund & Venture Capital Structuring
- Securities & Capital Market Regulations
- FDI Structuring & Cross-Border Investment
- Factoring & Leasing Agreements
- Project Finance & Structured Finance
- Derivatives & ISDA Advisory
- Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) Setup
- IPO & Private Placement
- Stock Exchange Listing (DSE / CSE)
- Bond & Sukuk Issuance
- Debt Restructuring & Workouts
- Trade Finance & LC Structuring
Startups, M&A & Investment
LegalSeba LLP is regularly instructed as M&A counsel in Bangladesh on founder, employee and investor documentation through every funding round, and on private auctions, public takeovers, carve-outs and joint ventures — running each transaction with integrated tax, regulatory and competition advice from a single team.
- Share Agreements
- Service Level Agreements
- Investment Term Sheets
- M&A & Acquisition Due Diligence
- ESOP Agreements
- Vendor Agreements
- Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
- Cross-border Financing
- Founder’s Agreements
- Employment Agreements
- Equity Financing
- Venture Capital Counsel
- Company Restructuring
- Convertible Note & SAFE Agreements
- VC Fund Formation Advisory
Commercial Licensing & Approvals
Incorporation through the RJSC, sector-specific authorisations and the full set of operational registrations required of any entity doing business in Bangladesh.
- Company Incorporation (RJSC)
- Trade Licence
- Branch Office
- Liaison Office
- Industrial Licence & Approval
- Partnership Firm
- Franchise Setup
- Joint Ventures
- Entertainment Licence
- Broadcasting Licence
- Trust Registration
- NGO Registration
- Factory Registration
- Import / Export Licence
- Fire Licence
- Environmental Clearance
- VAT & TIN Registration
- BIDA Investment Approval
Business Contracts
Drafting, vetting and negotiating bespoke and standard-form commercial agreements across the spectrum of business relationships.
- Affiliate Agreement
- Consulting Agreement
- Contract Review
- Distribution Agreement
- Equipment Lease
- Licensing Agreement
- Loan Agreement
- Manufacturing Agreement
- Marketing Agreement
- NDA
- Letter of Engagement
- Privacy Policy
- Profit Share Agreement
- Publishing Agreement
- SaaS Agreement
- Sales Agreement
- Service Level Agreement
- Terms of Service
- Vendor Agreement
- Technology Partnership Agreements
- Fintech User Terms & Policies
Corporate Maintenance
Statutory filings, board administration and the governance frameworks that regulated entities are expected to maintain.
- Annual Return Filing
- Corporate Amendments
- PF Registration & Returns
- Management & Compliance Audits
- Whistle-blowing Policy
- Board Maintenance
- Corporate Governance
- Management Restructuring
- M&A & Transactional Support
- AML / CFT Compliance Audits
- ESG & Sustainability Compliance
- AML / CFT & KYC Policy Drafting
Intellectual Property
Filing, prosecution, portfolio management and contentious enforcement across trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and geographical indications.
- Trademark Search & Clearance
- Trademark Registration & Filing
- Trademark Opposition & Enforcement
- Trademark Renewal & Portfolio Management
- Patent Search & Novelty Assessment
- Patent Application & Prosecution
- Patent Enforcement & Infringement Litigation
- Patent Licensing & Technology Transfer
- Copyright Filing & Registration
- Industrial Design & GI Registration
- IP Due Diligence for M&A
- IP Clauses in Commercial Agreements
Civil Suit, Litigation & Arbitration
LegalSeba LLP’s litigation and arbitration practice handles trial and appellate advocacy before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and its specialist tribunals, complemented by an established international arbitration capability. The firm acts in some of the most complex commercial, regulatory and white-collar matters arising in the country.
- Writ Petitions before the High Court Division (Article 102)
- Judicial Review of Administrative & Regulatory Action
- Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
- Constitutional Challenges to Statutes & Subordinate Legislation
- Contempt of Court Proceedings
- Habeas Corpus & Quo Warranto
- Mandamus & Certiorari
- Breach of Contract & Specific Performance
- Shareholder & Joint-Venture Disputes
- Oppression & Mismanagement Claims (Companies Act 1994, ss. 233 & 234)
- Derivative Actions & Minority Shareholder Remedies
- Winding-Up & Schemes of Arrangement
- Partnership Dissolution & Account-Taking
- Defamation & Reputation Management
- Stay Orders, Injunctions & Interlocutory Relief
- Declaratory Suits & Title Disputes
- Specific Relief Act Proceedings
- Suit for Damages & Compensation
- Execution & Enforcement of Decrees
- Appeals & Civil Revisions
- Money Loan Court (Artha Rin Adalat) Proceedings
- Negotiable Instruments Act, s. 138 (Cheque Dishonour) Cases
- Loan Recovery & Mortgage Enforcement
- Suits for Set-Aside & Auction Disputes
- Bankruptcy & Insolvency Proceedings
- Creditor Representation & Schemes
- Guarantor Liability & Indemnity Claims
- Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Investigations & Defence
- Money Laundering Prevention Act & BFIU Enforcement
- Bangladesh Bank Enforcement & Penalty Proceedings
- BSEC Investigations & Securities Enforcement
- Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) Matters
- BEPZA, BEZA & BIDA Regulatory Representation
- IDRA Insurance Disputes
- BTRC & Telecommunications Disputes
- Competition Commission Proceedings
- Internal Investigations & Compliance Reviews
- Cross-Border Asset Tracing & Recovery
- Sanctions & Export-Control Defence
- Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Proceedings
- VAT & Customs Appellate Tribunal Litigation
- Customs, Excise & VAT Adjudication & Appeals
- Tax References to the High Court Division
- Transfer Pricing Disputes
- Anti-Dumping & Trade Remedy Proceedings
- Bonded Warehouse Disputes
- Securities Fraud & Market Manipulation Defence
- Listing & Disclosure Disputes (DSE / CSE)
- Insider Trading Investigations
- Fintech Product & Licensing Disputes
- Payment System Operator Enforcement Matters
- Digital Lending & Consumer Finance Disputes
- Title & Possession Disputes
- Boundary & Survey (Khatian) Disputes
- Land Acquisition & Compensation Claims
- Suits Against Forged or Fraudulent Deeds
- Eviction & Rent Control Proceedings
- RAJUK & City Corporation Disputes
- Partition Suits & Co-Ownership Claims
- Labour Court Proceedings (Bangladesh Labour Act 2006)
- Wrongful Termination & Reinstatement Claims
- Wage, Bonus & Gratuity Recovery
- Workplace Harassment Litigation
- Trade Union & Collective Bargaining Disputes
- Senior Executive Disputes & Restrictive Covenants
- Vessel Arrests & Release Proceedings
- Cargo Claims & Bills of Lading Disputes
- Charter-Party Arbitration
- Marine Insurance & General Average
- Collision & Salvage Claims
- Letter of Credit Disputes
- Trademark Infringement & Passing-Off
- Patent Infringement & Revocation
- Copyright Enforcement & Anti-Piracy
- Industrial Design & GI Disputes
- Domain Name & Cyber-squatting Matters
- Trade Secret Misappropriation
- Domestic Arbitration (Arbitration Act 2001)
- International Commercial Arbitration (ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC)
- Investor-State Arbitration (ICSID, UNCITRAL)
- Construction & Project Arbitration (DAB, FIDIC)
- BIAC (Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre) Proceedings
- Recognition & Enforcement of Foreign Awards
- Setting Aside Domestic Awards
- Mediation & Conciliation
- Expert Determination
- White-Collar Crime & Corporate Criminal Defence
- Bail & Anticipatory Bail Applications
- Criminal Revisions & Appeals
- Cyber Crime & Digital Security Act Defence
- Customs & Smuggling Cases
- Director & Officer Liability
- Quashing of FIR & Criminal Proceedings
Money Recovery
Pre-action correspondence, dedicated court action and post-judgment enforcement to recover sums due to corporate and institutional clients.
- Police Complaint — Payment Default
- Suit Against Insolvent Company
- Deed Preparation & Vetting
- Legal Notice for Debt
- Cheque Bounce Complaint
- Suit for Recovery of Money (Money Loan Court Act)
- Handling Creditors’ Claims
- Insolvency & Bankruptcy Proceedings
- Loan Restructuring & Debt Workouts
Labour & Employment
Workforce documentation, expatriate work permits, executive arrangements and the conduct of individual and collective employment disputes.
- Offer Letters & Employment Agreements
- Wrongful Termination
- Unpaid Salary Issues
- Maternity Benefit Claims
- Service Rules & Employee Manual
- HR & Labour Audits
- Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP)
- Workplace Harassment Claims
- Non-Compete & NDA
- Expat Immigration & Work Permits
Property & Real Estate
Title diligence, conveyancing, joint development structures, RAJUK and city corporation approvals and contested land litigation.
- Property Due Diligence (Title, Record of Rights)
- Encumbrance, Mutation & Tax Record Verification
- Drafting & Registering Sale, Gift, Lease & Transfer Deeds
- Power of Attorney for Land Transactions
- Mutation, Registration & Land Record Rectification
- Land Development & Joint Venture Agreements
- Vetting Building Approvals (RAJUK, City Corp)
- Real Estate Development Act, 2010 Compliance
- Environmental & Land Use Permissions
- Land Ownership & Boundary Dispute Litigation
- Recovery of Possession & Eviction Proceedings
- Litigation for Forged Deeds & Fraudulent Transfers
- Land Acquisition & Compensation Disputes
- Land Conversion (Agricultural to Non-Agricultural)
- Structuring Land Investment for Foreign Entities
- Vetting Land Leases for EPZ / SEZ Projects
- Stamp Duty, Registration Fees & Capital Gains Advisory
Private Client & Wealth Management
Tax-aware counsel for international families and high-net-worth individuals on succession, asset protection, philanthropy and residency planning.
- Estate & Succession Planning (Wills, Trusts)
- Family Constitution & Trust Formation
- Tax-Optimised Wealth Structuring
- Asset Protection Advisory
- HNWI Residency & Tax Planning
- Philanthropy & CSR Structuring
- Inheritance & Gift Deeds
Family Law
Personal-status matters across the religious and civil regimes that apply in Bangladesh, including matters with a cross-border dimension.
- Name Change
- Birth / Death Certificate
- Child Adoption
- Guardianship Certificate
- Power of Attorney
- Annulment of Marriage
- Contested Divorce
- Cross-border Divorce
- Legal Notice — Divorce
- Muslim Divorce
- Hindu Marriage Registration
- Judicial Separation
- Dowry Complaint
- Mutual-Consent Divorce
- Domestic Violence Complaint
VAT & Tax
Direct and indirect tax structuring, withholding compliance, transfer pricing and contentious representation before the NBR and tax tribunals.
- Corporate Tax Planning & Structuring
- VAT & Supplementary Duty Advisory
- Customs Duty & Bonded Warehouse
- Tax Audit & NBR Representation
- Transfer Pricing Documentation & Advisory
- International Tax & DTAA Planning
- Expatriate & Personal Tax Advisory
- Income Tax & VAT Registration
- Return Preparation & Filing
- Withholding Tax (TDS) & VDS Compliance
- VAT Refund & Rebate
- Customs Duties Advisory
Audit & Assurance
Statutory audit, internal review, fund-specific assurance and pre-investment compliance health-checks.
- External / Statutory Audit
- Internal Audit
- Credit & Performance Audit
- Legal Compliance Audit
- Fund Audits (PF, Gratuity, WPPF)
- Risk Management Audit
- Tax & VAT Compliance Health Checks
Consumer Protection
Defence and prosecution of consumer claims, with the policy and product work that keeps regulated businesses outside the courtroom.
- Complaint — Faulty Product / Service
- Complaint — Insurance / Medical Negligence
- Safety Policy Drafting
- BSTI Approval
- Restaurant Compliance Check
- Consumer Claim Handling
Visa & Immigration
Inbound visa work for executives, investors, students and their families, including BIDA, BEPZA and BEZA work-permit support.
- Permanent Residency
- Student & Business Visa
- Employee Visa & Extension
- Family Member Visa
- Cross-border Property & Asset
- Expat Regulatory Compliance
- Bank Account & Settlement Support
- Expatriate Visa & Work Permit (BIDA, BEPZA, BEZA)
Corporate Training
In-house programmes for boards, compliance teams and frontline staff, calibrated to the expectations of the relevant regulator.
- Workplace Security
- IP & Labour Law Compliance
- Workplace Privacy & Ethics
- Cyber Security
- Board Management
- Anti-Harassment Training
- Regulatory Compliance Training (AML, Data Privacy)
- BEPZA, BEZA, BIDA Compliance Training
- Tax & VAT Compliance Training
§ V — Why LegalSeba
Why international clients choose LegalSeba LLP.
LegalSeba LLP is consistently chosen by foreign investors and multinationals as their corporate law firm in Bangladesh for five reasons. The firm combines transactional and contentious capability under one roof, maintains direct regulator-facing relationships with the principal authorities, advises across all fifteen disciplines without sub-contracting, operates on internationally accepted billing structures, and runs every mandate from Dhaka with English-language workflow as standard.
Full-service across all 15 disciplines
From RJSC incorporation through to ICSID arbitration, LegalSeba LLP advises on every stage of the foreign-investment lifecycle in Bangladesh. Clients are not handed between unrelated firms when a transaction requires regulatory, tax, IP or dispute work alongside the principal mandate — a single integrated team handles the lot.
Direct relationships with every key regulator
The firm maintains active files before BIDA, BEPZA, BEZA, Bangladesh Bank, the BSEC, the NBR, the RJSC, the IDRA, the BTRC and the MRA. That continuous regulator-facing presence translates into shorter approval times and earlier visibility on regulatory shifts that affect international investors.
Transactional and contentious in one team
Many Bangladesh law firms specialise in either transactions or litigation. LegalSeba LLP runs both. The partner who structures the joint venture is, where useful, the same partner who later pursues the writ petition, defends the NBR assessment or argues the arbitration — eliminating the handover risk that costs international clients time and money.
International billing & client-portal workflow
LegalSeba LLP offers fixed-fee, capped-fee and hourly engagement models calibrated to international expectations. Every mandate runs through a secure cloud client portal accessible on web and mobile, with English-language documentation and reporting as standard — tested by clients across Asia, Europe, the Gulf and North America.
Foreign-investor focus, built into the practice
The firm was founded in 2017 with foreign direct investment as its central organising principle. That orientation shapes how mandates are scoped, how risks are explained and how documentation is drafted — with cross-border counterparties, treaty protection, repatriation and dispute-jurisdiction always in view rather than treated as afterthoughts. For international clients evaluating the top corporate law firms in Bangladesh, that single design choice meaningfully changes outcomes.
Quick reference
LegalSeba LLP at a glance
- Firm type
- Full-service corporate & commercial law firm
- Headquarters
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Established
- 2017
- Practice areas
- 15 disciplines · 22 service categories
- Working languages
- English · Bengali
- Jurisdictional reach
- Bangladesh primary · 10 partner jurisdictions
- Engagement models
- Fixed-fee · capped-fee · hourly · retainer
- Client portal
- Cloud-based · web & mobile access
§ VI — Frequently Asked
Questions investors put to us first.
Which is the best corporate law firm in Bangladesh for foreign investors?
LegalSeba LLP is widely regarded as one of the leading corporate law firms in Bangladesh for foreign investors. The firm is a full-service practice headquartered in Dhaka, advising multinationals, sponsors, lenders and private clients across fifteen disciplines — including corporate and commercial law, foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, capital markets, taxation, intellectual property, real estate, dispute resolution and global immigration. Other recognised firms in the Bangladesh market include those ranked by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia-Pacific; the right choice for any individual mandate depends on sector, transaction size and the balance of transactional versus contentious work required.
What does a corporate lawyer in Bangladesh do?
A corporate lawyer in Bangladesh advises companies on the legal aspects of doing business — from incorporation through the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), to drafting shareholder agreements and joint ventures, structuring mergers and acquisitions, securing approvals from BIDA, BEPZA or BEZA, ensuring tax and regulatory compliance with the NBR, BSEC and Bangladesh Bank, protecting intellectual property and resolving disputes before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh or international arbitration institutions. At LegalSeba LLP, corporate lawyers handle each of these workstreams as an integrated mandate rather than splitting them between unrelated firms.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a company in Bangladesh?
Yes — in most sectors, foreign investors can own 100% of a company in Bangladesh. The country permits full foreign equity ownership in the majority of sectors, subject to registration with BIDA, BEPZA or BEZA depending on the location and the nature of the activity. A limited number of reserved sectors require local participation or are closed to foreign investment. LegalSeba LLP advises international clients on the optimal holding structure, taking into account sector restrictions, profit-repatriation profile and applicable double-taxation treaties.
How do I register a company in Bangladesh as a foreign investor?
Foreign company registration in Bangladesh follows a defined sequence: (1) name clearance through the RJSC, (2) preparation and filing of the memorandum and articles of association, (3) RJSC incorporation, (4) post-incorporation registrations — trade licence, e-TIN, BIN/VAT and bank account, (5) sectoral or zone-specific approval where applicable (BIDA for projects outside zones; BEPZA for export processing zones; BEZA for economic zones), and (6) work-permit and visa processing for foreign directors and executives. A private limited company is typically operational within seven to fifteen working days. LegalSeba LLP runs the full process from a single point of contact.
What are BEPZA, BEZA and BIDA, and which one applies to my project?
BEPZA, BEZA and BIDA are the three principal investment authorities in Bangladesh, each with a distinct mandate. BEPZA (the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority) administers the country’s eight Export Processing Zones, which are reserved for export-oriented industries. BEZA (the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority) administers the wider Economic Zones, open to both export and domestic-market industries across nearly one hundred sites. BIDA (the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority) is the central investment-promotion authority for projects outside the zone framework. The right route depends on the sector, target market and the specific incentive package available under each regime.
How long does company incorporation take in Bangladesh?
A private limited company in Bangladesh can be incorporated in seven to fifteen working days through the RJSC, once name clearance and director documentation are in order. Branch and liaison offices take longer because they require Bangladesh Bank approval, typically four to six weeks. LegalSeba LLP manages the full process end-to-end, including post-incorporation tax, VAT and trade-licence registrations.
What is the position on profit repatriation and dividend remittance from Bangladesh?
Profits, dividends, royalties and technical fees can be lawfully repatriated from Bangladesh, subject to the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 and the Guidelines for Foreign Exchange Transactions issued by Bangladesh Bank. Dividends, branch profits, royalties, technical fees and capital on disinvestment are remittable to non-resident shareholders through authorised-dealer banks once the supporting documentation, withholding tax and regulatory approvals are in place. LegalSeba LLP handles the documentation, tax certification and authorised-dealer process for foreign investors.
Who is the best M&A lawyer in Bangladesh for cross-border transactions?
LegalSeba LLP is regularly instructed on cross-border M&A transactions in Bangladesh, acting on buy-side and sell-side mandates including private auctions, public takeovers, carve-outs and joint ventures. The firm runs M&A as an integrated workstream — combining corporate, tax, regulatory, competition, employment and intellectual-property advice within a single team. Mandates with a contentious dimension benefit from the firm’s litigation and arbitration practice running in parallel.
Do you advise on project finance and PPP transactions in Bangladesh?
Yes. LegalSeba LLP acts for sponsors, lenders and government counterparties on project finance and PPP transactions in Bangladesh, including BOT, BOO and concession structures. Mandates cover the full security package, FIDIC-form construction documentation, sovereign guarantees and compliance with the requirements of multilateral lenders such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The firm advises on power, water, transport and digital-infrastructure projects.
Which law firm should I instruct for fintech and digital banking licensing in Bangladesh?
LegalSeba LLP is one of the leading fintech law firms in Bangladesh, advising payment system operators (PSP/PSO), e-wallet providers, digital lenders, NBFIs and applicants for digital bank licences. Engagement scope typically includes Bangladesh Bank licensing, AML/CFT policy frameworks, data-protection compliance, open-banking and API agreements, product vetting (BNPL, digital lending) and microcredit licensing under the MRA. The firm acts for both inbound fintech entrants and domestic operators expanding into regulated activity.
Can LegalSeba LLP handle disputes alongside transactional work?
Yes. LegalSeba LLP runs an integrated transactional and contentious practice. The firm’s litigation and arbitration team appears before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the specialist tribunals (income tax, VAT, customs, the Money Loan Court and the Labour Court) and the principal international arbitration institutions, including the ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC and ICSID. Mandates frequently span both contentious and non-contentious work — particularly in regulatory, white-collar, tax, capital-markets and project-finance contexts where transactions and disputes routinely overlap.
How does LegalSeba LLP charge for its legal services?
LegalSeba LLP offers fixed-fee, capped-fee, hourly and retainer engagement models calibrated to international client expectations. Routine workstreams — incorporation, trademark filing, contract drafting, annual compliance — are typically delivered on a fixed-fee basis. Transactional and contentious mandates are scoped against capped or hourly rates, with regular budget reporting through the firm’s cloud client portal. All fee proposals are issued in writing before work commences.
§ VII — Engage
A conversation about your matter.
Whether you are entering Bangladesh for the first time or building on an existing operation, we will give you a candid assessment of the legal route and a realistic timetable.
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LegalSeba LLP · Holding No 1/5, Flat B3, Block E, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.