The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has set a 30 June 2026 deadline for listed companies to appoint at least one female independent director, warning that failure will trigger legal action.
The directive came at a 29 April meeting in Agargaon with company secretaries of non-compliant firms.
The meeting was chaired by BSEC Executive Director Md Anwarul Islam.
The regulator urged companies to choose from a pool of eligible candidates, including business entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, university teachers, serving or retired government officials, professionals with recognised degrees, and lawyers practising in the High Court Division.
The requirement became mandatory through an amendment to the Corporate Governance Code published in the official gazette on 29 April 2024.
Companies were originally given one year to comply. The deadline was then extended to 31 December 2025. The new 30 June 2026 deadline marks the second extension.
Data from the Dhaka Stock Exchange shows 163 listed companies have already appointed female independent directors.
The remaining 131 firms have not.
BSEC said the move aims to strengthen corporate governance and improve gender diversity at the board level.
