Advertising, Marketing and Consumer Communications Law in Bangladesh
Advertising, marketing and consumer communications advice for brands, agencies, platforms, retailers and international businesses selling to consumers in Bangladesh, covering campaign clearance, product claims, influencer and digital marketing, promotions and prize draws, sector restrictions, direct marketing consent and the handling of regulator complaints.
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
How we advise on advertising and marketing law in Bangladesh
Marketing in Bangladesh now runs across television, outdoor billboards, social media, messaging apps, e-commerce platforms and influencer channels, often in the same week and sometimes on the same day and for the same product. The legal rules have not been gathered into a single advertising code, so brands and agencies must work with several statutes, regulators and sector-specific restrictions at once. We advise local and international businesses on clearing campaigns, substantiating claims, structuring promotions and responding to complaints, as part of our technology, IP and data practice in Bangladesh. Our aim is confident campaigns without penalties or reputational damage.
The central consumer law is the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009, which treats deceiving buyers through false or misleading advertisement as an offence and gives the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection power to receive complaints, hold hearings and impose fines. Its officials can act on a single consumer complaint, and enforcement drives in markets and online are common. Price claims, discounts, quality and origin statements, and comparisons with competitors are all areas where we see complaints arise. Clear substantiation, prepared before launch, is the best defence when the Directorate or a competitor questions a claim.
Sector rules sit on top of the general law. Tobacco advertising is heavily restricted under tobacco control legislation, and breast-milk substitutes and certain infant foods are subject to specific controls. Medicines, medical devices and cosmetics are governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 2023, which limits how products may be promoted. Food claims fall under food safety law and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, while standards claims may involve BSTI. Financial products, telecom offers, real estate and education services face regulator guidance of their own. A campaign that works in one sector can be unlawful in another.
Digital marketing raises additional questions. Influencer posts must not mislead consumers about who is paying for an endorsement or what a product does. E-commerce sellers must follow the digital commerce guidelines on product information, delivery and refunds. Direct marketing by SMS, email or messaging app engages telecom rules and, increasingly, the Personal Data Protection Act 2026, which affects how customer data is collected, used for targeting and shared with agencies and platforms. Online content is also subject to cyber security law, so advertising that touches sensitive topics or third-party rights needs careful review before it goes live.
We work with advertising, marketing, legal and compliance teams at each stage, from reviewing a brief and the creative to agency and influencer contracts, promotion terms, data consents and crisis response. We also protect brands against competitors' misleading claims and infringing campaigns, working with our intellectual property and disputes lawyers, and we act where the Directorate or another regulator opens proceedings. For international brands entering Bangladesh, we explain clearly how local rules differ from those in their home markets. Where a matter escalates to court, our dispute resolution team represents clients in hearings and appeals.
Core workstreams
Four clear stages
- 01Brief and risk review
- 02Creative and claims clearance
- 03Contracts and terms
- 04Launch and response
Talk to a partner
Consultations in Dhaka or by video. Scope, team and fees are agreed in writing first.
Book →Marketing and consumer law work we handle
Campaign and copy clearance
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Claims substantiation and comparative marketing
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Influencer and digital marketing
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Promotions, contests and loyalty schemes
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Direct marketing and customer data
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Complaints, enforcement and disputes
- Brief and risk review
- Creative and claims clearance
- Contracts and terms
- Launch and response
Campaign and copy clearance
We review scripts, storyboards, digital assets, packaging and outdoor creative before launch, checking product claims, price and discount statements, comparisons, disclaimers, use of music, images and people, and sector restrictions. We give short, practical comments that the creative team can act on quickly, rather than long memos, and we help build an internal approval process so that routine campaigns can be cleared consistently by the client's own team.
Claims substantiation and comparative marketing
We advise on the evidence needed to support performance, health, environmental, origin and superiority claims, and on how to present test results, awards and rankings fairly. For comparative campaigns we assess trade mark use, accuracy and the risk of a competitor complaint or court action, and we suggest wording that keeps the commercial message while reducing legal exposure for the brand and its agency. Evidence files are kept ready for regulators.
Influencer and digital marketing
We prepare influencer, brand ambassador and content creator agreements covering disclosure of paid relationships, approval rights, usage licences, morality clauses, payment and tax. We advise on social media promotions, platform advertising policies, user-generated content, affiliate marketing and the digital commerce guidelines, and we help clients respond when a sponsored post goes wrong or attracts complaints online. We also review payment, tax and exclusivity terms for creators.
Promotions, contests and loyalty schemes
We draft terms and conditions for prize draws, contests, giveaways, cashback offers, bundled deals and loyalty programmes, and assess whether a scheme risks being treated as an unlawful lottery or a misleading offer. We also advise on prize tax, regulatory permissions, winner selection procedures, data collection from entrants and the clear disclosure of eligibility, limits and closing dates. Clear terms reduce complaints and disputes with entrants.
Direct marketing and customer data
We help businesses design consent, notice and opt-out processes for SMS, email, push notification and messaging app marketing, taking account of telecom rules and the Personal Data Protection Act 2026. We review data sharing with agencies, platforms and analytics providers, draft privacy notices and data processing terms, and advise on audience targeting, profiling and cross-border transfers of marketing data. Practical consent design also tends to improve customer trust.
Complaints, enforcement and disputes
We represent brands before the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and other regulators, prepare written responses and evidence, and attend hearings. We also bring and defend claims over misleading advertising, passing off, trade mark and copyright infringement, and breach of agency or influencer contracts, seeking urgent injunctions where a competitor's campaign is causing immediate harm to the client's brand. We also advise on public statements and media handling.
Partner-led, on every matter.
Technology, IP & Data matters at TRW are led by partners, supported by associates, with one responsible lawyer from first advice to final outcome.
Meet the firm →01Is there a single advertising law or code in Bangladesh?
No. Advertising in Bangladesh is regulated through several laws rather than one code. The Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 deals with false and misleading advertisement and consumer complaints. Sector laws cover tobacco, breast-milk substitutes, medicines and cosmetics, food and other regulated products. Broadcasting, telecom and digital commerce rules affect where and how messages are delivered, and intellectual property law protects brands and creative content. Data protection law now also governs much digital marketing. We map the rules that apply to each campaign, so that clients can see the whole picture rather than relying on one statute.
02What happens if the consumer protection directorate receives a complaint about our advertisement?
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection can investigate a complaint, call the business to a hearing and impose administrative fines, and certain offences can also be prosecuted. Officials often act quickly, and outcomes can be reported in the media. The business should respond promptly with evidence supporting the claim, such as test results, invoices or terms and conditions, and consider whether the advertisement should be paused or amended. We prepare the written response, attend the hearing with the client and advise on any appeal, while also reviewing whether the wider campaign needs adjustment to prevent repeat complaints.
03Do influencers have to disclose paid promotions and sponsored posts in Bangladesh?
There is no dedicated influencer marketing statute, but presenting a paid promotion as an independent opinion can mislead consumers, and the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 and general law on misrepresentation can apply to brands and, in some cases, to influencers. Platform rules also require disclosure of paid partnerships. Good practice is to label sponsored content clearly, avoid claims the brand could not make itself and keep approval records. We include disclosure obligations, approval rights and remedies in influencer contracts and train marketing teams on what to look for before content is published. Contracts should also allocate liability.
04Can we run a prize draw, contest or giveaway to promote our products?
Promotional competitions are common, but they need careful design. A scheme that requires payment or purchase to enter and awards prizes purely by chance can raise concerns under lottery restrictions in the Penal Code and related laws, while unclear terms can lead to consumer complaints. Skill-based contests, free entry routes and transparent rules reduce risk. Tax may be payable on prizes, and personal data collected from entrants must be handled lawfully. We review the mechanics, draft the terms and conditions, and advise on winner selection, publicity and record keeping, so the promotion supports the advertising campaign rather than creating liability.
05What rules apply to promoting medicines, cosmetics and health products in Bangladesh?
Medicines, medical devices and cosmetics are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 2023 and related rules administered by the Directorate General of Drug Administration. Promotion of prescription medicines to the public is restricted, and health or therapeutic claims for other products must be accurate and supportable. Food supplements and functional foods may also fall under food safety law. Because the line between a cosmetic, a food and a medicine affects what can be said, we start by classifying the product. We then review claims, labels, packaging and digital content against the applicable rules and the client's evidence.
06How does the Personal Data Protection Act 2026 affect advertising and marketing?
The Personal Data Protection Act 2026 introduces statutory requirements for collecting, using and sharing personal data, which directly affects customer databases, targeted advertising, loyalty programmes, lead generation and data shared with agencies and platforms. Businesses should know what data they hold, why they hold it, what consent or other legal basis applies and how customers can opt out. Implementing rules are still developing, so we recommend a practical data audit of marketing activities, followed by updated notices, consent flows, agency contracts and internal procedures that can be adjusted as guidance is issued. Retention periods also need attention.
07Can we use a competitor's brand name in comparative advertising?
Comparative advertising is not prohibited as such, but it carries risk. Using a competitor's trade mark may give rise to infringement or passing off claims under the Trademarks Act 2009 and general law, and an inaccurate or unfair comparison can be treated as misleading under consumer law. The safest comparisons are factual, verifiable, relevant to consumers and supported by current evidence. We review the proposed comparison, the data behind it and the way the competitor's mark is used, and advise on wording and presentation that keep the message strong while limiting the chance of an injunction or complaint.
08What should our creative agency and media buying contracts cover?
Agency and media agreements should set out the scope of services, approval processes, ownership and licensing of creative work, use of third-party music, images and talent, compliance responsibilities, data protection, confidentiality, fees and rebates, and liability if a campaign breaches the law or third-party rights. International brands should also check carefully how global agency terms work in Bangladesh, including tax and payment arrangements. We draft, review and negotiate these contracts so that responsibility for compliance is clear and the brand can rely on its agency to follow the advertising rules and approval steps agreed between them.
From first call to resolution.
- 01
Brief and risk review
We first review the campaign brief, product, target audience, channels and markets, identify the laws and regulators involved, and agree which claims, mechanics or sector restrictions need detailed legal attention before creative work and media planning begin.
- 02
Creative and claims clearance
We review the creative, scripts, packaging and digital assets, check substantiation for each claim, and provide clear amendments and approvals in good time for production and media booking deadlines. Urgent reviews are turned around quickly.
- 03
Contracts and terms
We prepare or review the relevant agency, influencer, media and promotion terms, privacy notices and consent wording, so that all responsibilities, rights in content and compliance obligations are documented before launch. Gaps are closed early in the process.
- 04
Launch and response
We support the client after launch, monitoring complaints, responding to regulators and competitors, advising on amendments or withdrawal, and acting quickly in disputes over misleading claims or infringing campaigns. Lessons then feed into future campaigns.
“Demonstrates an extraordinary command over both domestic litigation and international arbitration.”
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Bangladesh: Dispute resolution, client feedback
Related reading.

Product Liability Law in Bangladesh 2026: Defective Goods Claims, Consumer Complaints and Compensation

E-Commerce Law in Bangladesh: A 2026 Business Guide

Bangladesh Data Protection Law: 2026 Guide

Trademark Infringement in Bangladesh: Remedies, Enforcement and Case Examples (2026)
All insights →
Who regulates advertising and marketing in Bangladesh?
Can false or misleading advertising lead to criminal penalties in Bangladesh?
Do we need approval before publishing an advertisement in Bangladesh?
Are there special rules for advertising to children and young people?
Is advertising in English and Bangla treated differently under Bangladeshi law?
What should we do if a competitor's advertising misleads consumers or damages our brand?
How does VAT and tax apply to advertising services?
How can TRW & Co help with advertising and marketing compliance in Bangladesh?
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