Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday announced a 17-point priority programme aimed at restoring investor confidence and building a transparent, stable and sustainable capital market.

Speaking during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in Parliament, Rahman said the government remains committed to reviving the stock market through reforms focused on good governance, transparency, accountability, investor education and greater market depth.

The reform agenda includes strengthening the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), encouraging the listing of profitable state-owned enterprises and large multinational companies, bringing fundamentally strong companies—including SMEs—to the market, enhancing audit standards, expanding foreign portfolio investment facilities, introducing blockchain technology, digitalising BO account services through e-KYC, reducing capital gains tax, eliminating double taxation on dividend income, and improving investor protection.

The prime minister also said the government plans to establish a Capital Market Reform Commission and a Special Investigation Commission to investigate market irregularities, while AI-based surveillance will be used to detect manipulation and fraud more effectively.

Rahman said the government is continuing efforts to identify those responsible for past stock market manipulation and bring them to justice. He noted that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already launched investigations into major market scandals, while the BSEC has imposed fines totaling Tk 1,497 crore against individuals and institutions involved in market manipulation and other violations.

He added that the government also aims to strengthen the Chittagong Stock Exchange as part of its broader effort to develop a more balanced and efficient capital market.