International desks: Bangladesh law for clients abroad

by Barrister Tahmidur Rahman | Oct 24, 2026

TRW & Co/International desks

International desks: Bangladesh law for clients abroad

TRW's international desks explain Bangladesh law for clients in eight countries with close investment, trade and family links to Bangladesh: the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Singapore and Japan. Country desks bring together the Bangladesh law that matters most to clients based in a particular country: investment and tax treaties, how that country's court judgments and arbitral awards are enforced in Dhaka, documents and powers of attorney, trade access, and diaspora family and property questions.

Alongside these desks, TRW & Co has offices and dedicated sites in London, Dubai, Singapore, China, Italy, Switzerland, Chattogram and Sylhet, with Dhaka as head office. Each desk is general information as at 24 October 2026, not legal advice, and treaty rates apply only on the conditions in the treaty text.

8Countries
8Tax treaties covered
25Countries in the NRB desk
9Offices and sites
Choose your country

Bangladesh law, from where you are

01GBUnited KingdomThis desk is for businesses, lenders and families in the United Kingdom with interests in Bangladesh. It covers the 1980 bilateral investment treaty, the 1979 double tax convention and its withholding caps, how a UK…Investment treatyOpen →02USUnited StatesThis desk is for American companies, buyers, lenders and Bangladeshi-American families with business, disputes or property in Bangladesh. It covers the 1986 bilateral investment treaty, the 2004 income tax convention…Investment treatyOpen →03AEUnited Arab EmiratesThis desk is for companies, traders and Bangladeshi families in the United Arab Emirates with business, disputes or property in Bangladesh. It covers the 2011 investment treaty and the 2011 double tax convention, with…Investment treatyOpen →04SASaudi ArabiaThis desk is for Saudi companies, investors and suppliers dealing with Bangladesh, and for Bangladeshis working there with family, land or disputes at home. It covers the 2011 double tax convention, the absence of a…Investment treatyOpen →05CNChinaThis desk is for Chinese companies, contractors, lenders and suppliers working with Bangladesh, and for Hong Kong businesses. It covers the 1996 bilateral investment treaty and the 1996 double tax agreement; how Chinese…Investment treatyOpen →06INIndiaThis desk is for Indian companies, traders, lenders and families with interests in Bangladesh. It covers the 2009 bilateral investment treaty, the 1991 double tax convention as amended in 2013, how Indian judgments and…Investment treatyOpen →07SGSingaporeThis desk is for Singapore holding companies, funds, traders and lenders investing in or contracting with Bangladesh, and for Bangladeshis working in Singapore. It covers the 2004 bilateral investment treaty, the 1980…Investment treatyOpen →08JPJapanThis desk is for Japanese companies, trading houses, lenders and Bangladeshis living in Japan. It covers the Japan–Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2026 and what it will change once in force,…Investment treatyOpen →

Compare the international desks

The key legal links between Bangladesh and each country, side by side. Open a desk for the detail and sources.

CountryInvestment treatyTax treatyJudgmentsArbitral awardsDocuments
United KingdomBangladesh–UK BIT signed 19 June 1980, in force 19 June 1980Convention signed Dhaka 8 August 1979; caps: dividends 10%/15%, interest 7.5% (banks) or 10%, royalties 10%; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed (the UK's express mention was deleted in 2003); sue on the judgment within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; UK awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between the UK and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025 (FCDO apostille)
United StatesBangladesh–US BIT signed 12 March 1986, in force 25 July 1989Convention signed Dhaka 26 September 2004, in force 7 August 2006; caps: dividends 10%/15%, interest 10% (5% for banks and credit sales), royalties 10%; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the US judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; US awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies from 30 March 2025; apostille from the issuing state's Secretary of State
United Arab EmiratesBangladesh–UAE BIT signed 17 January 2011, in force 5 May 2013 (UNCTAD)Convention signed Abu Dhabi 17 January 2011; caps: dividends 5% (3%+ holding) or 10%, interest 10%, royalties 10%; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the UAE judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; UAE awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45The UAE is not an Apostille party: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, then Bangladesh mission attestation
Saudi ArabiaNo Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia BIT is listed by UNCTADConvention signed Riyadh 4 January 2011; caps: dividends 10%, income from debt-claims 7.5%, royalties 10%; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the Saudi judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; Saudi awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025 (Saudi MOFA apostille)
ChinaBangladesh–China BIT signed 12 September 1996, in force 25 March 1997Agreement signed Beijing 12 September 1996; caps: dividends, interest and royalties 10% each; Hong Kong has a separate agreement; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the Chinese judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; awards made in China or Hong Kong enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between China and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025; Hong Kong and Macao issue their own apostilles
IndiaBangladesh–India BIT signed 9 February 2009, in force 7 July 2011Convention signed New Delhi 27 August 1991, Protocol signed Dhaka 16 February 2013; caps: dividends 10%/15%, interest 10%, royalties 10%No s.44A CPC notification for India confirmed; sue on the Indian judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; Indian awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between India and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025 (MEA apostille)
SingaporeBangladesh–Singapore BIT signed 24 June 2004, in force 19 November 2004 (UNCTAD)Agreement signed Singapore 19 December 1980; caps: dividends 15%, interest 10%, royalties 10%; NBR certificate neededNo s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the Singapore judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; SIAC and other Singapore awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between Singapore and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025 (Singapore Academy of Law)
JapanBangladesh–Japan BIT signed 10 November 1998, in force 25 August 1999Convention signed Dhaka 28 February 1991; caps: dividends 10% (25%+ voting shares) or 15%, interest 10%, royalties 10%No s.44A CPC notification confirmed; sue on the Japanese judgment in Bangladesh within six yearsBoth New York Convention parties; Japanese awards enforced in Dhaka under Arbitration Act 2001 s.45Apostille Convention applies between Japan and Bangladesh from 30 March 2025 (Japan MOFA apostille)

Looking for another country? The NRB country desk covers documents and powers of attorney from 25 countries.

International desks: Investors
Investors
International desks: Documents from abroad
Documents from abroad
International desks: Family property
Family property
International desks: Disputes
Disputes

Sources

  1. UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub: Bangladesh international investment agreements
  2. NBR: Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (43 agreements; treaty texts)
  3. HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
  4. UNCITRAL: status of the New York Convention 1958
  5. Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (ss.13, 14, 44A)
  6. Arbitration Act 2001 (ss.7A, 45-48)
  7. Commercial Courts Act 2026 (Act No. 23 of 2026)
  8. Dhaka Tribune: FY26, 62% of remittances came from just 5 countries (Bangladesh Bank data, 9 August 2026)
  9. OpenStreetMap Nominatim: Road 29, Mohakhali DOHS (way 448264432)
  10. TRW NRB country desk: powers of attorney, apostille and Bangladesh missions
Questions

International desks: common questions

Does TRW have offices in these countries?
No. TRW & Co is based in Dhaka. The international desks explain Bangladesh law for clients who live or do business in these countries, and we advise them remotely by video, telephone and email, and in person in Dhaka.
Which desk should I read?
Choose the country where you or your company are based. Each desk covers the investment treaty and tax treaty with Bangladesh, how that country’s court judgments and arbitral awards are treated in Bangladesh, how to sign documents there for use in Bangladesh, and the questions clients from that country ask most.
Can I sign a power of attorney abroad for use in Bangladesh?
Yes. Each desk explains the route for its country, including whether an apostille is accepted or legalisation through a Bangladesh mission is still needed. The NRB country desk covers 25 countries in more detail.

General information as of 24 October 2026, not legal advice.

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