Bangladesh’s listed company boards are set to face greater accountability under the proposed Corporate Governance Rules 2026, with the framework placing stronger emphasis on directors’ responsibilities, audit oversight and governance compliance.
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan said the updated rules are designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and sustainable corporate practices in the capital market, while ensuring governance professionals play a stronger role in implementation.
The comments came at a continuing professional development programme organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB) in Dhaka on Saturday, where regulators, listed companies and governance professionals discussed the proposed framework.
The keynote presentation by Mohammad Sanaullah, past president of ICSB and chief executive officer of Mohammad Sanaullah & Associates, highlighted major changes in the proposed rules, including enhanced responsibilities for boards of directors, audit committees, independent directors and company secretaries.
Bangladesh Public Listed Companies Association President Riad Mahmud called for closer cooperation among regulators, listed companies and governance professionals to ensure effective implementation of the new requirements.
A technical session examined practical compliance challenges, featuring Md Rafiqul Islam, deputy managing director and company secretary of Walton, Mahbubur Rahman, company secretary of BRAC Bank, and Lopa Rahman, corporate governance officer of the International Finance Corporation.
The speakers discussed governance best practices and the changing role of company secretaries in strengthening investor confidence and ethical business practices.
ICSB President Hossain Sadat, who chaired the session, said the institute would continue supporting governance professionals through continuous learning and capacity-building initiatives to help them navigate evolving regulatory requirements.
The programme was attended by chartered and company secretaries, directors, corporate executives, governance professionals and regulators, who exchanged views on implementing the proposed rules.
