B Mirror Report: Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced a series of reforms aimed at making Bangladesh’s capital market deeper, more transparent, diversified and investor-friendly while presenting the proposed FY2026-27 budget in Parliament on Thursday.

Highlighting past irregularities and mismanagement in the market, the finance minister said the government is taking steps to restore investor confidence and improve market efficiency.

Key initiatives include simplifying the listing process for fundamentally strong and promising companies by reducing unnecessary complexities, delays, excessive costs and regulatory ambiguities.

The government also plans to make the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process time-bound and technology-driven. Application submission, document verification, fee payment, amendments and approvals will be completed through online platforms.

A unified digital platform will be introduced to facilitate information exchange among issuing companies, issue managers, stock exchanges, the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) and regulators.

To increase long-term investment in the market, participation by pension funds, insurance companies, asset management companies, mutual funds and other institutional investors will be encouraged.

The government will expand the corporate bond market and introduce municipal bonds to support local government and urban infrastructure development. Greater use of bonds, sukuk, infrastructure funds and other financing instruments is also planned for long-term public and private sector projects.

The minister said coordination among the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), stock exchanges, CDBL, banks, brokers and other related institutions will be strengthened through integrated information systems.

The government will also examine the feasibility of regional dual listing for domestic companies on foreign stock exchanges.

In addition, a professional liability framework and liability insurance system will be introduced for auditors, valuers, issue managers and other market professionals.

To improve market efficiency, securities settlement time will be gradually reduced from the current T+2 system to T+0. The government also plans to ensure that the repatriation and reinvestment of profits by foreign investors, as well as proceeds from the sale of securities purchased through Non-Resident Investors’ Taka Accounts, can be completed within one working day.