A secure intellectual property rights framework is vital to attracting more foreign direct investment while giving global importers and promoters the confidence to source products from Bangladesh.

American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh president Syed Ershad Ahmed made the remark at a meeting titled ‘Advancing the IPR Framework: The Way Forward’ organised by the chamber on Wednesday at The Westin in the capital, said a press release.

The event brought together key stakeholders from across the public and private sectors, along with senior media professionals, to engage in a constructive dialogue on the critical role of intellectual property rights or IPR in transforming Bangladesh’s business and investment ecosystem.

Shilpi Jha, senior commercial specialist and IP policy Adviser-South Asia at the US embassy in New Delhi, highlighted that the new government had a key opportunity to strengthen Bangladesh’s IP framework, attract investment and support micro, small, and medium enterprises.

She stressed the need for better IPR enforcement capacity and recommended mandatory training for enforcement officials to help them distinguish between patents, trademarks, copyrights and geographical indications.

AmCham executive committee members Al-Mamun M Rashel (treasurer), Mirza Sajib Raihan, Paul Frost (commercial counsellor) and executive director Chowdhury Kaiser Mohammad Riyadh, among others, attended the meeting.

Participants shared their concerns and insights, posing questions to her regarding various operational aspects of intellectual property protection.

The session highlighted that effective IPR protection required coordinated action across sectors, particularly in managing imports and addressing policy frameworks.

The event concluded with a consensus that building a robust IPR regime was an immediate necessity for Bangladesh to successfully graduate from LDC status and secure its position in the global supply chain.