The Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC) has urged more businesses to consider initial public offerings (IPOs) as a source of long-term financing, highlighting stronger governance, regulatory preparedness and transparency as key prerequisites for listing.
The message emerged at a knowledge-sharing session titled Exploring IPOs – Readiness, Challenges and Roadmap to Listing, organised by BAPLC at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Tower in Dhaka on Monday.
The programme, aimed particularly at members of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), sought to encourage companies to consider capital market financing as a strategic alternative to conventional bank borrowing for business expansion.
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Commissioner Tanwir Habib Rahman attended the event as chief guest, while BAPLC President Riad Mahmud chaired the session.
Dhaka Stock Exchange Chairman Mominul Islam, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem and DSE Brokers Association (DBA) President Saiful Islam also attended and stressed the need to broaden corporate participation in Bangladesh’s capital market.
Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA) Secretary General Sumit Podder outlined the IPO application process, the benefits of public listing and the steps required to become listed on the stock exchanges. Dhaka Stock Exchange General Manager and Acting Chief Regulatory Officer Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan presented regulatory expectations and compliance requirements for prospective issuers.
Speakers said companies seeking to access the capital market must strengthen corporate governance, improve transparency, ensure regulatory compliance and undertake adequate financial and strategic preparation before pursuing an IPO.
The session also featured an interactive discussion in which regulators and market professionals responded to participants’ questions on IPO readiness and listing requirements.
In his closing remarks, BAPLC President Riad Mahmud reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting awareness of capital market financing, strengthening investor confidence and supporting the listing of quality companies.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session reflecting growing interest among corporate leaders and business representatives in using the capital market to support future growth.
