The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) is set to host the “SAFA International Conference 2026” on 17 January at Hotel Le Meridien, Dhaka.
In a historic first for the country, the President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Jean Bouquot, will visit Dhaka to participate in the event as a Guest of Honour.
Details regarding the conference were disclosed during a press briefing held on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, at the CA Bhaban in Karwan Bazar, which was addressed by ICAB President NKA Mobin FCA and the Chairman of the SAFA Organising Committee and former ICAB President, Muhammad Farhad Hussain FCA.
The theme of the conference, “Next-Generation Profession: Integrating Ethical AI and Sustainability Reporting”, highlights the strategic necessity of merging technology with non-financial impact verification.
According to the organisers, the event aligns with the government’s “New Bangladesh” vision, showcasing how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive smart governance, economic competitiveness, and inclusive social development.
The conference aims to prepare future accountants to navigate algorithmic ethics and sustainability assurance to foster stakeholder trust and direct capital flow toward sustainable growth.
Md Touhid Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to inaugurate the prestigious regional event as the Chief Guest.
The opening ceremony will also be attended by the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Ahsan H Mansur, and the Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance, Nazma Mobarek, serving as Special Guests.
The briefing was also attended by ICAB Vice President Md. Rokonuzzaman FCA, Council Members Jareen Mahmud Hossain FCA and Muhammad Emran Hossain FCA, Chief Executive Officer Shubhashish Bose, and Chief Operating Officer Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA.
A major highlight of the conference will be the formal handover of SAFA leadership, where former ICAB President Mohammed Humayun Kabir FCA will assume the role of SAFA President for 2026, and Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA will take over as the executive secretary of SAFA.
The conference will feature three technical sessions titled “Professional Landscape: Reshaped by Ethics and Technology”; “Beyond Numbers: Professional Accountants’ Evolving Role”; and “Framework to Outcome: Sustainability Assurance”, with summaries of the discussions to be presented by Md. Rokonuzzaman FCA.
The closing session will feature Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), as the Chief Guest, alongside Special Guests Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, and Dr Md Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan, Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).
The event is expected to attract over 500 professionals, regulators, and academics from across the SAARC region and the globe. Established in 1984, the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) is an IFAC-recognised regional body representing more than 450,000 accountants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Afghanistan.
