How to Change Ownership of a .bd Domain

People say "transfer the domain" to mean two quite different things, and confusing them wastes a lot of time.

This guide covers the second. For the first, see how to transfer a .bd domain to a new provider.

When you need an ownership transfer

• The business was sold and the domain goes with it.
• The company restructured — a sole proprietorship became a limited company, or two entities merged.
• An agency or developer registered the domain in their own name and you're reclaiming it.
• An employee registered it personally and has since left.
• The domain itself was sold to another party.
• An organisation's legal name changed and the registrant record no longer matches its documents.

Why .bd is stricter than a .com

On a generic .com, changing the registrant is largely a matter of editing contact fields. On a .bd domain it isn't, because every registrant is verified against real documents. Changing the registrant means BTCL must verify the incoming party exactly as it would a new registration.

That's more friction — and it's also the protection. It's precisely why nobody can quietly take a .bd domain out from under you.

What both parties need

The current registrant provides

• Written authorisation for the transfer.
• Their existing verification documents, confirming they are who the record says.
• Account access, or cooperation through the registrar.

The new registrant provides

• Full identity documents for their registrant type — NID, trade licence, or registration certificate.
• Contact details matching those documents exactly.
• Confirmation that they meet the extension's eligibility rules.

The process

1. Both parties agree in writing. Even between friends, write down what is being transferred and when.
2. Contact your registrar. Get in touch with support to start the process for a domain managed by get.bd.
3. Current registrant authorises. Confirmation from the verified account or contact.
4. New registrant submits documents. Same standards as a fresh registration — see documents required.
5. We verify the incoming registrant.
6. The record updates. The new registrant now controls the domain.

DNS and name servers are untouched throughout, so the website and email keep working. Verify afterwards with a WHOIS lookup that the record reflects the change.

If an agency holds your domain

This is common enough to deserve its own section. A web developer builds the site, registers the domain in their own name for convenience, and years later the business discovers it doesn't own its own address.

While the relationship is good

Raise it now, framed as housekeeping rather than distrust: "We'd like the domain registered to the company for continuity — can we sort that out?" Most agencies will simply do it. Keep the agency as technical contact if that's useful; ownership is the part that must sit with you.

If they've stopped responding

• Check your contract. Many web development agreements assign domain ownership to the client, which settles the question.
• Check invoices. If you paid the registration fee, that's evidence of intent.
• Check your trademark position. A registered trademark in your business name is your strongest lever.
• Approach the registrar with your documentation.
• Consider a formal dispute if the registration clearly infringes your rights — slow, but available. See BTCL domain policy explained.

When buying a business

Domains are routinely forgotten in acquisition paperwork. Before completion:

• List every domain the business uses — including redirects and old brand names.
• Verify who actually holds each one via WHOIS. Don't rely on being told.
• Name them explicitly in the sale agreement.
• Complete the ownership transfer before final payment, or hold back a portion until it's done.
• Check expiry dates so you don't inherit a domain lapsing next month.

Getting it right from the start

Every problem in this article is prevented by one decision at registration time:

• Register in the business's name, with the business's documents.
• Use a company-controlled email for the account.
• Keep credentials with the business, not one individual.
• Give contractors technical access, not ownership.

More on that and nine related traps in 10 mistakes people make registering a .bd domain.