AmCham hosted a meeting titled "Advancing the IPR Framework: The Way Forward" at a city hotel today. Photo: AmCham

DHAKA, May 20, 2026 (BSS) - American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) hosted a breakfast meeting titled "Advancing the IPR Framework: The Way Forward" at a city hotel today.

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 (IPR) in transforming Bangladesh's business and investment ecosystem.
Syed Ershad Ahmed, President of the AmCham, opened the floor by underscoring the strategic necessity of robust IPR enforcement for the nation's future. 

He emphasized that a secure IPR framework is vital to attracting increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) while giving global importers and promoters the confidence to source products from Bangladesh, said a press release.

Shilpi Jha, Senior Commercial Specialist & IP Policy Advisor-South Asia at the US Embassy, New Delhi highlighted that the new government has a key opportunity to strengthen Bangladesh’s IP framework, attract investment, and support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 

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.

Following Jha’s remarks, 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 requires coordinated action across sectors, particularly in managing imports and addressing policy frameworks.

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

AmCham Executive Committee members Al-Mamun M Rashel, Mirza Sajib Raihan, Paul Frost (Commercial Counselor) and other US Embassy officials, AmCham members, prominent industry stakeholders and Executive Director of AmCham Chowdhury Kaiser Mohammad Riyadh were present.