ICAB to host SAFA Int’l Conference in Dhaka

The President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global apex body of the accountancy profession, will visit Dhaka for the first time to attend the SAFA International Conference 2026, to be hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB).
The two-day regional event, titled "Next Generation Profession: Converging Ethical AI and Sustainability Reporting", will be held on 17 January at Hotel Le Méridien, bringing together more than 500 professionals, regulators, academics and thought leaders from South Asia and beyond.
ICAB shared details of the conference at a press briefing organised at CA Bhaban in Kawran Bazar, Dhaka, on Wednesday. ICAB President NKA Mobin FCA delivered the opening remarks, while Muhammed Farhad Hussain FCA, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the SAFA International Conference, ICAB Vice-President Md Rokonuzzaman FCA, Chief Executive Officer Shubhashish Bose and Chief Operating Officer Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA also spoke on the occasion. ICAB Council Members Zareen Mahmud Hosein FCA and Amran Hossan FCA were present.
Speakers highlighted that the future of the accountancy profession lies in the strategic integration of ethical artificial intelligence and sustainability reporting, as technology increasingly shapes Bangladesh's economic trajectory and professional landscape. They noted that the next-generation accountant must develop dual competencies-governing algorithmic ethics and validating non-financial impact-to build stakeholder trust and guide capital towards sustainable growth.
Artificial intelligence, they said, will play a central role in shaping a "New Bangladesh" by enabling smarter governance, stronger economic competitiveness and more inclusive social development. The country's national economic development is now deeply intertwined with information technology, which is transforming service delivery, economic participation and governance across both public and private sectors. Digital payments and mobile financial services, in particular, have brought millions into the formal economy, strengthening financial inclusion and domestic demand.
Against this backdrop, ICAB is hosting the SAFA International Conference in alignment with the government's vision of building a New Bangladesh. By embracing ethical AI, professional accountants can drive innovation and enhance transparency, while sustainability reporting ensures accountability and responsible growth. This convergence of ethics, technology and sustainability reflects Bangladesh's ambition to build a progressive and globally respected nation anchored in professional excellence.
Md Touhid Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will inaugurate the conference as the chief guest. Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Ahsan H Mansur, and Nazma Mobarek, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance, will attend as the special guests, underscoring strong government support for advancing ethical standards and international collaboration in the accounting and finance sectors.
At the invitation of ICAB, Jean Bouquot, President of IFAC, will attend the conference as the guest of honour. His participation highlights the global relevance of the event and the importance of discussions on sustainability reporting, ethical AI and next-generation professional practices.
The conference will also mark a significant leadership transition within the regional body. During the event, Mohammed Humayun Kabir FCA, Past President of ICAB, will formally assume office as President of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) for 2026, while Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA will take over as SAFA Executive Secretary.

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