Registration is made to the Department of Co-operatives through the relevant registration office for the society's area of operation. The founders usually hold a preliminary meeting, agree draft by-laws, collect share capital and member details, and file the application with supporting documents. The office reviews the application and may raise queries or ask for changes to the by-laws before issuing a certificate. Timing depends on the completeness of the papers and the office concerned, so we do not quote fixed periods. Careful preparation before filing is the most reliable way to avoid repeated queries and delay.

It depends on who will own and control the enterprise and how profits will be used. A co-operative society suits members who want to run a business for their mutual benefit on a one-member, one-vote basis, under the supervision of the Registrar. A company under the Companies Act 1994 suits investors who want shares in proportion to capital, freedom to raise outside funding and a familiar structure for banks and foreign partners. We compare governance, regulatory oversight, tax treatment, funding options and exit routes before you commit, because converting later can be difficult and costly.

A society may only take savings or deposits within the limits of the Act, the rules, its registered by-laws and any conditions imposed by the Registrar, and normally only from its own members. Taking money from the public, promising unrealistic returns or operating like a bank without a licence can lead to serious regulatory and criminal consequences, and Bangladesh has seen high-profile enforcement against schemes that misused the co-operative form. We review a society's savings and credit activity, by-laws and records, and advise on how to keep it within the law and protect members' money.

This is a common and damaging situation. Banks may freeze accounts, counterparties may stop dealing, and members lose confidence. The answer usually depends on the by-laws, the election records, the notices given, any orders of the Registrar and any pending proceedings. We review the documents quickly, identify which group has the stronger legal position, and advise on the correct forum, whether that is the Registrar, the statutory dispute procedure or the courts. In the meantime we help protect the society's assets and records so that the eventual decision can be implemented in practice.

Expulsion is possible only on the grounds and through the procedure set out in the Act, the rules and the society's by-laws. That normally means proper notice of the allegations, an opportunity to respond and a decision by the competent body at a properly convened meeting. A decision taken without following that process is vulnerable to challenge, and the member may seek restoration of membership and other relief. We advise both the co-operative society and individual members on whether grounds exist, how the process should run and how to challenge or defend an expulsion decision.

Committee members manage the society's affairs on behalf of its members and must act within the Act, the rules and the by-laws. They are expected to keep proper accounts and records, use funds only for authorised purposes, avoid conflicts of interest and cooperate with audit and inspection. Where funds are misapplied or losses are caused by improper decisions, the Registrar's powers and the statutory procedure can lead to orders for recovery against those responsible. We advise committee members on good practice, on recording their objections, and on responding when they are named in an inquiry.

Confirm that the society is validly registered and its registration is not suspended or cancelled, that the transaction is within the objects in its by-laws, and that the managing committee is lawfully constituted. Check whether a general meeting resolution or the Registrar's approval is required, and review title documents for any land carefully. Ask whether there are pending disputes, audit objections or inquiries. We carry out this due diligence for banks, developers and purchasers, and draft the conditions and authority documents needed so that the transaction will not later be set aside or challenged by members.

A society may be wound up in the circumstances set out in the Act, for example where members resolve to dissolve it, where it no longer meets the requirements for registration, or after an inquiry or inspection finds serious problems. A liquidator is appointed to collect assets, pay liabilities and deal with any surplus according to the law and the by-laws. The process can take time and may involve disputes over property, member claims and creditor rights. We advise members, committees, creditors and liquidators on the steps involved and on protecting their position during liquidation.