TRW & Co · UK–Bangladesh property
Executing a Power of Attorney for Bangladesh from the UK
A power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based owners is normally signed in person at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, in the form prescribed under the Power of Attorney Act, 2012 and its 2015 Rules, then counter-attested in Dhaka within 60 days and processed locally. Narrow drafting matters as much as the formalities.
Key pointThe Bangladesh High Commission will not accept a deed alone as property evidence: bring a khatian, mutation paper or current land tax receipt in the executant's name, plus inheritance documents if the land is still in a parent's name.
At a glance
Prescribed Bangladeshi form
Property powers follow the Power of Attorney Act, 2012 and the 2015 Rules, using the prescribed Schedule-Ka, Form-3 format in English or Bangla.
Sign in person
Every executant attends the Bangladesh High Commission in London by appointment and signs with fingerprints before the consular officer.
60-day MoFA window
The attested power must be counter-attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka within 60 days of signing in London.
Apostille has limits
Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention from March 2025, but land offices still expect the consular route for property powers.
Draft narrowly
Name the property, limit permitted acts, fix any sale price and payee, and revoke the power formally once the task is complete.
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Power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based owners: the short answer
A power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based owners or heirs is usually signed in person at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, in the format prescribed under Bangladesh's Power of Attorney Act, 2012 and the Power of Attorney Rules, 2015. It must then be counter-attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka and processed locally before the attorney can use it with land offices, sub-registries or courts.
The route matters because the most common use is land: mutation, paying land development tax, partition or sale. For those purposes the High Commission route is the one Bangladeshi offices expect. A UK notary and an apostille can serve other purposes, but they do not replace the consular process for property documents.
The bigger risk is not the formality but the scope. A broadly drafted authority to "sell, mortgage and transfer" gives a relative or agent the power to dispose of your land, and Bangladesh's registration system will treat their signature as yours.
The legal framework in Bangladesh
Bangladesh regulates powers of attorney through the Power of Attorney Act, 2012 and the Power of Attorney Rules, 2015, made under the Act and published in the official gazette in July 2015. Together they set the prescribed forms, the categories of power and the steps for registering or authenticating a power before it is used.
The Act distinguishes between general and special powers and makes particular provision for irrevocable powers connected with the sale or development of immovable property. A power that authorises sale, transfer or mortgage of land is treated with more formality than one that only allows an agent to attend offices or pay tax. In practice, a power that touches land must identify the property by its schedule, describe the attorney's authority precisely and be registered or authenticated before use.
For documents signed outside Bangladesh, the Rules require the power to be executed before a Bangladeshi mission officer and then processed within short deadlines once it reaches Bangladesh. This includes certification by the competent officer, payment of the appropriate stamp duty and filing with the sub-registry. The deadlines are strict, so the attorney should be ready to act as soon as the document arrives.
Signing at the Bangladesh High Commission in London
The Bangladesh High Commission in London publishes its requirements for property powers of attorney. As of October 2026, the key points are these.
- Prescribed format. The power must follow the government's prescribed form (Schedule-Ka, Form-3), prepared in English or Bangla. The High Commission recommends preparing it with the help of a Bangladeshi advocate or other qualified professional.
- Proof of Bangladeshi nationality. Each person giving the power must provide a copy of a Bangladeshi passport (valid or expired), national ID card, online-verifiable birth registration certificate, Bangladeshi educational certificate or another government document showing Bangladeshi nationality.
- Attorney's identity. Each attorney must provide a copy of both sides of their Bangladeshi national ID card.
- Property evidence. A khatian, porcha, mutation (namjari) paper or updated land tax receipt (dakhila) must be supplied. A deed (dolil) alone is not accepted, and the executant's name must match the nationality document exactly.
- Heirs. If the land is still recorded in a deceased parent's name, an inheritance or succession certificate and the parent's death certificate are required.
- In-person signing. Every executant must attend with an appointment and sign and give fingerprints before the consular officer. A separate appointment is needed for each power.
- Counter-attestation in Dhaka. The attested power must be counter-attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka within 60 days of signing at the High Commission.
The High Commission may keep the documents for further review and verification. Build that possibility into your timetable, especially if a land sale has a completion date.
The High Commission's ordinary document attestation service does not cover powers of attorney; they must go through the dedicated power of attorney process. Book the right appointment, and bring the full property paperwork, or you may have to start again.
Notary, FCDO apostille and when they help
Bangladesh acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in July 2024, and the HCCH status table shows it in force for Bangladesh from 30 March 2025. Several states objected to the accession, so the Convention does not operate between Bangladesh and those states, but the United Kingdom is not listed among the objectors.
The FCDO Legalisation Office can attach an apostille to a document certified by a UK notary or solicitor, including a power of attorney, either on paper or as an e-Apostille. For a corporate authority, a litigation mandate or a bank's own form, a notarised and apostilled power for Bangladesh from UK-based signatories may be accepted, but always confirm with the recipient first.
Language is a separate issue. Bangladeshi offices work in Bangla, and an English-language power may need a certified translation for some uses. Agree the language of the document with your attorney and Bangladeshi counsel before it is signed, because correcting a translation after execution is far harder than drafting bilingually at the outset.
For land, the consular route under the 2015 Rules remains the expected path. Do not assume an apostilled power will be accepted by a sub-registrar or the Assistant Commissioner (Land). Our guide to legalising UK documents for Bangladesh covers certificates, company documents and other papers.
| Purpose | Usual route | Points to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mutation, land tax, partition or sale of land | Sign at the High Commission in the prescribed form, then MoFA counter-attestation and local processing | Property schedule, heir documents, 60-day MoFA window, local deadlines |
| Company matters, such as a board or shareholder representative | UK notary and apostille, or High Commission attestation, as the recipient requires | Company law formalities, board resolutions, registrar requirements |
| Litigation in Bangladesh | Notarised authority or vakalatnama process agreed with Bangladeshi counsel | Court-specific rules, translations, original signatures |
| Bank accounts | Bank's own mandate form, often with notarisation or consular attestation | Bank policy, anti-money laundering checks, specimen signatures |
Step-by-step: executing a power of attorney from the UK
Most families signing a power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based homes can follow the sequence below.
- Define the purpose. Decide exactly what the attorney must do: mutation only, a partition, a sale at an agreed price, or management and rent collection.
- Collect property papers. Obtain the latest khatian, mutation record and tax receipt; if the land is in a parent's name, obtain the inheritance certificate and death certificate.
- Check names and identity. Make sure each executant's name matches the property record and the nationality document, and prepare explanations for any spelling differences.
- Draft in the prescribed form. Prepare the power in Schedule-Ka, Form-3 with Bangladeshi counsel, describing the property schedule and limiting the authority.
- Book and attend. Book a High Commission appointment in an executant's name, attend with all executants, and sign before the consular officer.
- Send to Bangladesh securely. Courier the original to the attorney with a full copy retained, and diarise the 60-day MoFA counter-attestation deadline.
- Complete local formalities. The attorney obtains MoFA counter-attestation and completes certification, stamping and sub-registry filing within the Rules' deadlines.
- Monitor and revoke. Ask for copies of every document the attorney signs, and formally revoke the power, with notice to the relevant office, once the task is complete.
Using the power once it reaches Bangladesh
When the original power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based executants arrives, the attorney's first job is administrative rather than legal. They take it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka for counter-attestation, then complete the local certification, stamping and filing that the 2015 Rules require before presenting it to any land office, bank or sub-registry.
Offices will compare the power with the record. The property schedule, the executants' names and the attorney's national ID details must match what the Assistant Commissioner (Land) or sub-registrar sees on the khatian and in the application. Small inconsistencies, such as a missing plot number or a different spelling of a father's name, are the most common reason for a power to be questioned.
The attorney should keep the original safe and work from certified copies wherever possible. Ask them to send you scanned copies of every application, receipt and deed they sign, so you have your own record. For a sale, insist that the buyer pays into an account in your name rather than to the attorney personally.
Business and company powers
Not every power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK companies or investors concerns land. A UK parent may need to appoint a representative for a Bangladeshi subsidiary, a joint venture board, a tax filing or a court case. Here the recipient's rules matter most: the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, a bank or a court may each specify its own format, translation and attestation requirements, and a board resolution approving the power is usually expected. Our investing in Bangladesh team handles these corporate authorities.
Drafting safeguards that protect the owner
The form is prescribed, but the content is yours. A power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based owners is often signed under time pressure, with a relative waiting for the original. Slow down and use the drafting to protect yourself.
- Name the property precisely by district, mouza, khatian and plot numbers and the area or share involved.
- Limit the acts allowed. If the job is mutation, say so, and exclude sale, mortgage, gift and lease.
- Fix the price and payee for any sale, and require proceeds to go into an account in the owner's name.
- Set a duration and a requirement for written instructions before each major step.
- Prefer a professional or independent attorney where family relationships are strained.
An irrevocable power linked to a sale or development is sometimes demanded by developers. Treat it as a transaction document, not an administrative formality, and take advice on its terms and how it can be ended.
Illustrative scenario
This scenario is illustrative only and does not describe a real client. Three British Bangladeshi siblings in Birmingham and London inherit a flat in Chattogram recorded in their late mother's name. A cousin offers to "handle everything" and asks them to sign a general power.
Instead, they obtain the inheritance certificate first, then sign a single power at the High Commission appointing a professional representative to complete mutation and pay tax, with no authority to sell. Their representative obtains MoFA counter-attestation within the 60-day window and completes local processing.
A year later, the siblings agree to sell. They sign a second, sale-specific power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK addresses, naming the buyer, price and the bank account for proceeds. The cousin's informal role never becomes legal authority.
Risks and common mistakes
Signing a general power of attorney
A general power to deal with "all my properties in Bangladesh" is the root of many fraud and family disputes. The attorney can sign deeds that a sub-registrar will register, and unwinding a registered sale is slow and uncertain. Limit the power to named property and named acts, and use separate powers for separate tasks. If you have already signed a wide power, consider revoking it formally and notifying the relevant offices.
Missing the post-signing deadlines
A power signed in London is not ready to use on arrival. It needs MoFA counter-attestation within 60 days of signing at the High Commission and further local processing within the deadlines set by the 2015 Rules. If the courier is slow or the attorney is unprepared, the document may need to be signed again. Diarise the dates and send a copy in advance so the attorney can prepare.
Confusing a UK lasting power of attorney with a Bangladeshi power
A lasting power of attorney registered with the Office of the Public Guardian works for UK assets and decisions under English law. It is not designed for Bangladeshi land and will not satisfy the 2012 Act's forms. If an elderly parent owns land in Bangladesh, plan both instruments while they have capacity; see our guide to a lasting power of attorney.
Executants without Bangladeshi documents
The High Commission asks each executant for proof of Bangladeshi nationality. British-born heirs who have never held a Bangladeshi passport, ID card or birth registration may need to obtain one, or a dual nationality certificate, before they can sign. Start early, because these applications take time. Our guide to dual nationality for British Bangladeshis explains the options.
What to do next
Before booking an appointment to sign a power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based family members, confirm the purpose, gather the property record and decide who should act. A short review of the draft against the property schedule and the heirs' shares often prevents a second trip to the High Commission.
If the power relates to inherited land, read our guide on inheriting property in Bangladesh; if you are selling, see selling property in Bangladesh from the UK. TRW & Co's London office is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and our Bangladesh property from the UK and UK–Bangladesh succession teams work with colleagues in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet on drafting and local processing.
To prepare a power of attorney for Bangladesh from UK-based family members, contact us at info@trw.co or +880 1779 127165, or at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London WC1V 7QH.
Frequently asked questions
01How do I make a power of attorney for property in Bangladesh while living in the UK?
Prepare the power in the prescribed Bangladeshi format with the property schedule and a clearly limited purpose, then book an appointment at the Bangladesh High Commission in London. All executants attend and sign before the consular officer, bringing proof of Bangladeshi nationality, the attorney's national ID card, property records and any inheritance documents. The original is then sent to Bangladesh for Ministry of Foreign Affairs counter-attestation within 60 days and for local processing.
02Can I use a UK notary and apostille instead of the High Commission?
For some purposes, yes. Bangladesh has been party to the Apostille Convention since March 2025 and the UK did not object to its accession, so an apostilled notarial document may be accepted for corporate, banking or litigation matters if the recipient agrees. For land transactions, however, Bangladeshi offices expect the consular process under the 2015 Rules, so do not rely on an apostille for property without confirming it in advance.
03What documents does the Bangladesh High Commission need for a power of attorney?
As published by the High Commission, each executant needs proof of Bangladeshi nationality, such as a passport, national ID card or verifiable birth registration certificate. Each attorney needs a copy of their national ID card. You also need photographs, a property record such as a khatian, mutation paper or current land tax receipt (a deed alone is not accepted), and, where the property is in a deceased parent's name, an inheritance certificate and death certificate.
04How long is a power of attorney signed in London valid for use in Bangladesh?
Validity depends on the terms of the power itself, but there are strict procedural deadlines after signing. The High Commission states that the power must be counter-attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka within 60 days of signing, and the 2015 Rules set further time limits for local certification, stamping and filing. Missing them may mean signing again, so the attorney should be ready to act immediately.
05Can I cancel a power of attorney I gave to a relative in Bangladesh?
Generally, yes, unless it is an irrevocable power connected with a transaction such as a sale or development, which has special rules. Revocation should be in writing, executed with appropriate formalities, and notified to the attorney and to the offices where the power was filed or may be used, such as the sub-registry. If you suspect misuse, obtain certified copies of the land record and any deeds immediately.
06Does a UK lasting power of attorney work in Bangladesh?
Not for most practical purposes. A lasting power of attorney registered with the Office of the Public Guardian is made under English law for UK assets and decisions. It does not follow the Bangladeshi prescribed form and will not be accepted by Bangladeshi land offices. Owners with land in both countries should put both instruments in place while they have full mental capacity.
Sources and official materials
- Power of Attorney Act, 2012 (Bangladesh), Laws of Bangladesh — Statutory framework for powers of attorney in Bangladesh
- Power of attorney, Bangladesh High Commission London — Documents, appointments, in-person signing and the 60-day MoFA counter-attestation
- Apostille Convention status table, HCCH — Bangladesh's accession and entry into force, and states that objected
- Get your document legalised, GOV.UK — FCDO Legalisation Office apostille service, including powers of attorney
- Attestation of documents, Bangladesh High Commission London — Ordinary attestation service and the exclusion of powers of attorney
General information only, current as at 21 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a solicitor–client relationship. It reflects the law of England and Wales unless stated otherwise; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems, and the law changes frequently. Check current official sources and take advice on the facts of your matter.