The securities regulator will work closely with the government and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to launch a comprehensive 'Listed Company Advantage Programme' aimed at attracting quality companies to the secondary market, said its newly appointed chief.
Immediately after assuming office on Thursday, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)
He stressed the need to create competitive advantages for listed companies, noting that many currently view listing not as an opportunity but as an obligation.
Under the proposed programme, the securities regulator would facilitate widening of the tax rate gap between listed and unlisted companies, formation of a separate tax administration, risk-based tax assessment, a reduction in unnecessary audits and faster dispute resolution mechanisms.
Mr Khan said the programme would also include a simplified process for raising capital and other policy incentives.
"Through these benefits, higher standards of governance of disclosure of listed companies will be recognised," said the BSEC chairman.
The regulator will also take measures to introduce a transparent and effective direct listing framework through which eligible companies can list on the stock exchanges without raising new capital.
"Our goal is to rapidly increase the number of quality securities and further expand investment opportunities," he said.
The country's capital market remains heavily dependent on retail investors. In developed markets, by contrast, pension funds, provident funds, insurance companies, mutual funds and other institutional investors provide stability, liquidity and long-term capital.
"The mutual fund industry, which was supposed to be one of the strongest pillars of our capital market, has also failed to earn the confidence of investors.
"We fully realise these realities and we will strengthen the mutual fund industry," said the BSEC chairman.
On the prospects of the country's capital market graduating from frontier to emerging status, he said foreign investors had concerns over governance, disclosures, profit repatriation and market practices.
"We will treat these concerns with seriousness and take initiatives to resolve them systematically," Mr Khan said.
The BSEC would also ensure effective surveillance and law enforcement to maintain market integrity and protect investors. A modern surveillance framework would be built by integrating the BSEC, bourses and the depository authority to install a real-time monitoring system.
"Although surveillance will be conducted across the entire market, special emphasis will be given in the primary stage to Z category securities, where risks related to corporate governance, disclosures, and investor protection are relatively high."
Mr Khan further said insider trading, circular trading, wash trades, pump-and-dump schemes, front running and other market manipulative activities would be detected faster, investigated more thoroughly and punished more effectively.
Stock exchanges will be empowered to take immediate actions, such as the temporary suspension of trading, following any reasonable suspicion of market manipulation, insider trading, information leaks or material disclosure failures tied to listed companies.
The BSEC chairman also spoke of the digitisation of the capital market and the need for continuous dialogue with market intermediaries and other regulatory bodies, including the central bank and the revenue board.
New BSEC chief vows to make listing attractive for quality companies
FE REPORT | Published: June 04, 2026 22:59:47
New BSEC chief vows to make listing attractive for quality companies
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