Joint Stock Company Registration in Bangladesh: Complete 2026 Guide

If you want to start a business in Bangladesh with limited liability, joint stock company registration in Bangladesh is the route most founders take. Companies, partnership firms, societies and trade organisations are all registered through one government office: the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).

This guide explains what RJSC does, which entities you can register, how the RJSC name search works, the documents you need, how fees are calculated, and what to do after you receive your certificate.

What Is a Joint Stock Company?

A joint stock company is a business owned by shareholders who hold shares in it. The company is a separate legal person. It can own property, sign contracts, borrow money, and sue or be sued in its own name. Shareholders’ liability is normally limited to the unpaid amount on their shares, so their personal assets stay protected.

In Bangladesh, these companies are governed by the Companies Act, 1994 (https://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd). Two common forms exist:

Private limited company

Private limited company: its shares cannot be offered to the public, it has a limited number of shareholders, and compliance is lighter. It suits SMEs, startups and family businesses.

Public limited company

Public limited company: it can offer shares to the public and be listed on a stock exchange, but it faces heavier compliance and disclosure requirements. It suits larger firms raising capital.

What Is RJSC and What Does It Do?

RJSC stands for the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms. It is the only authority that incorporates and regulates private and public limited companies, partnership firms, foreign companies operating in Bangladesh, and societies and trade organisations.

It works under three main laws: the Companies Act, 1994 for companies, the Societies Registration Act, 1860 for societies, and the Partnership Act, 1932 for partnership firms.

Its day-to-day services include:

• Registration of new entities
• Annual returns and change filings (directors, share capital, address and so on)
• Certified copies of documents held in its records
• Winding up, either by the court or voluntarily by the members
• Striking off companies that have stopped operating, after the Registrar sends notices and gets no satisfactory reply

The official website is roc.gov.bd (https://www.roc.gov.bd). Online services such as applications, searches, fee calculation and status checks are available on the e-service portal at app.roc.gov.bd (https://app.roc.gov.bd).

Types of Entities You Can Register With RJSC

1. Private limited company: the most popular choice for new businesses.
2. Public limited company: for businesses planning to raise funds from the public.
3. One Person Company (OPC): for a solo founder, allowed under the amended Companies Act.
4. Partnership firm: registered under the Partnership Act, 1932.
5. Foreign company, branch or liaison office: this usually also involves investment registration with BIDA (https://bida.gov.bd).
6. Society and trade organisation: non-profit and association-type bodies.

Not sure which structure suits you? Read our related guide: Private Limited vs Partnership: Which Is Better in Bangladesh?

RJSC Name Search: How to Check Company Name Availability

Before anything else, your proposed name must not be identical or confusingly similar to a name that is already registered, reserved or in process. You can run an RJSC name search (https://app.roc.gov.bd) on the RJSC e-service portal.

How to do it:

1. Open the RJSC e-service portal and create an account, or log in.
2. Go to the name search option.
3. Enter your preferred name and the entity type.
4. If the name is available, you can use it in your application. If not, try a variation.

Tips for choosing a name:

• Prepare 3 to 5 alternatives so a rejection does not cost you time.
• Avoid names that look like existing brands or suggest government or official status.
• For a private company, the name must end with “Limited” or “(Pvt.) Limited” as the rules require.
• Check the domain name and social media handles at the same time.

An important note on the process: in the past, name clearance was a separate first step with its own fee. Since RJSC introduced its single-process registration online service in 2021, applicants can check availability, fill in the form, upload documents and pay fees in one flow. The Financial Express reported this change (https://www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/company-registration-in-24-hours-as-service-goes-online-today-1612153419). Some law firms still describe a separate name clearance step, so always follow what the live portal shows when you apply.

Documents Required for Company Registration

Gather these before you start the online application:

• Memorandum of Association (MoA): the company’s name, registered office, objects (business activities), liability, and authorised capital with its division into shares.
• Articles of Association (AoA): the internal rules for directors, meetings, share transfers and accounts.
• Prescribed RJSC forms: for example the director’s consent form (Form IX) and the particulars of directors (Form XII), plus any other forms the portal lists for your entity type.
• Identity documents of directors and shareholders: NID or passport, photographs, and TIN where applicable.
• A registered office address in Bangladesh.
• Signed and scanned copies of all the above for upload.

For a foreign-owned company, expect additional documents such as board resolutions and proof of the parent company’s existence, and in most cases investment registration through BIDA.

Step-by-Step: How to Register a Joint Stock Company in Bangladesh

Step 1: Decide the structure and capital.

Choose private, public or OPC. Set the authorised capital carefully, because RJSC fees and stamp duty are linked to it.

Step 2: Choose and check the company name.

Use the RJSC name search described above.

Step 3: Prepare the MoA and AoA.

Make sure the objects clause covers every activity you plan to carry out. Amending it later takes extra filings and fees.

Step 4: Open the bank account and prepare the capital.

Many entrepreneurs open a bank account for the proposed company and deposit the subscribed capital, as advised by their lawyer or bank. Confirm the exact current requirement with your advisor.

Step 5: Submit the application online.

Log in to the RJSC e-service portal, fill in the application, upload the signed documents and submit.

Step 6: Pay the fees.

The portal calculates what you owe, including the registration fee, filing fee and stamp duty. Pay through the channel it offers.

Step 7: RJSC review and certificate.

RJSC reviews the application. If anything is wrong, it raises queries for you to fix. Once approved, you receive the Certificate of Incorporation with your company registration number and incorporation date.

Step 8: Track your application.

Use the portal to monitor your RJSC submission status.

RJSC Registration Fee and Cost

The RJSC registration fee depends mainly on your authorised capital, not your paid-up capital. The typical cost components are:

• Name fee (if charged): historically around Tk 500 per name. Check the live portal for the current amount.
• Filing fee: charged per document filed. It is commonly reported as Tk 200 per document, which is about Tk 1,200 for six documents.
• Registration fee: based on authorised capital. Recent guides report it as nil up to Tk 10 lakh, rising in bands above that.
• Stamp duty: set by slabs of authorised capital.
• VAT: applied on certain government fees.
• Certified copies: optional, but usually needed for banks and licences.
• Professional fee: lawyer or consultant charges, if you hire one.

Please note that different law-firm websites publish different figures for these items, and the fee schedule has been revised over the years. Do not rely on any blog, including this one, for the final number. Use the fee calculator on the RJSC portal before you pay, and check the latest schedule at roc.gov.bd (https://www.roc.gov.bd).

How to keep costs reasonable:

• Set authorised capital realistically. Do not inflate it “just in case”, since fees and stamp duty rise with it.
• Prepare documents correctly the first time to avoid resubmissions.
• Compare lawyer packages, but check what government fees they include.

After Registration: What Comes Next?

Getting the certificate is only the start. Typical next steps are:

1. TIN for the company: register with the National Board of Revenue (https://nbr.gov.bd).
2. BIN / VAT registration, if your turnover or activity requires it.
3. A trade licence from the relevant city corporation or municipality.
4. Bank account activation and any other bank formalities.
5. Sector licences such as import/export registration, environmental clearance and industry-specific approvals.
6. Annual compliance: hold the annual general meeting, keep statutory registers, and file annual returns with RJSC on time.
7. Change filings: report changes in directors, share capital, registered office or other particulars to RJSC in the prescribed form.

Related reading: TIN Registration for Companies in Bangladesh and Trade Licence Guide for New Businesses.

RJSC Offices in Bangladesh

RJSC has its head office in Dhaka and divisional offices in Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi. Each office handles specific districts. Addresses and phone numbers change, so confirm the current contact details on the official RJSC website (https://www.roc.gov.bd) before visiting. Since most services are now online, many applicants never need to visit in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Joint stock company registration in Bangladesh is now largely online. Check your name using the RJSC name search, draft your MoA and AoA carefully, set sensible authorised capital, submit through the portal and track your application. After incorporation, complete your TIN, VAT, trade licence and annual filing obligations.

Need help? Contact us for a free consultation.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Fees, forms and procedures change, so always confirm with RJSC and a qualified lawyer.