What about the scheme in plain facts?

Who is covered: the Act defines a "hotel" as a business with at least 10 bedrooms where guests pay for lodging, food or both, and says the definition includes guest houses, motels, resorts and rest houses, whatever name they use. A restaurant is a business where 30 or more customers can be seated for food service.

What about the steps?

1. Register: apply to the District Commissioner with the prescribed fee and procedure. If satisfied, the Registrar issues a registration certificate with conditions. If not, the application is rejected and the applicant is told the reason within 30 working days of the decision. 2. Open and get a licence: you must start the business and obtain the licence within 2 years of the registration certificate for a hotel (1 year for a restaurant). If you fail, the registration certificate is cancelled au

What about other duties?

- Hotels are classified by stars (restaurants by grade) under rules, and an owner must not fall below the notified standard. - If you sell the business you must tell the Controller and surrender your certificate and licence, and the buyer must get a new licence. - A guest who pays and follows the house rules cannot be evicted or refused service without good reason. - Breaking the Act or its rules is an offence with up to 6 months of simple imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 2 lakh, or both.

What about what the act does not say?

It states no fees, no application form, no guest registration or police reporting duty, no rules for businesses under 10 bedrooms, and nothing on tax or foreign ownership. It does not mention homestays or online listings.

Does my 4 room guest house need this licence?

The Act's hotel definition starts at 10 bedrooms, so a smaller property is outside the text we read. We did not find an official rule for smaller lodgings, so ask the District Commissioner's office.

Who issues the certificate?

The District Commissioner acts as Registrar for the registration certificate and as Controller for licences of two star and below hotels.

What if I never open after registering?

The registration certificate is cancelled automatically if you do not start and get a licence within 2 years (hotels).

What about once you are licensed?

Registration makes you legal. Distribution is a separate job. Fursat's own guest stays are in India, so we do not list homes in Bangladesh, but if you also own or manage property in India you can start at /list-your-property, and our free channel manager explains how calendar sync across booking sites works. For the basics of the Indian system, read How to Start a Homestay in India. For a neighbouring regime written the same way, see How to Start a Homestay in Nepal.

Journal/Homestay Guides

4 min read · 7 October 2026

How to Register a Guest House or Hotel in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Hotels and Restaurants Act 2014 covers lodgings of 10 bedrooms or more, guest houses included. Here are the registration, licence and penalty rules.

Sneha Surana

bangladeshguest-house-registrationhotels-and-restaurants-act

How to Register a Guest House or Hotel in Bangladesh

Keep reading.

Does my 4 room guest house need this licence?

Who issues the certificate?

How long is the licence valid?

What if I never open after registering?