B Mirror Report: The newly appointed Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Masud Khan, has pledged to rebuild investor confidence and establish a transparent, fair, vibrant, and stable stock market.

In a Facebook post following his assumption of office on Friday, Khan outlined the current challenges facing the capital market, his key priorities, and his future roadmap. He said the stock market is going through a difficult phase, and restoring investor trust while deepening and strengthening the market remains the biggest challenge.

He emphasized that revitalizing the market on a strong and sustainable foundation will not be easy, noting that past experiences show capital market reform is complex and involves significant risks.

Khan added that the BSEC’s responsibilities will go beyond recovery efforts. His priorities include strengthening institutional capacity, attracting quality listed companies, encouraging long-term investment, improving governance and transparency, advancing digital transformation, and enhancing investor education. He also stressed the importance of balancing regulation and simplification, stating, “Regulate where necessary, and simplify where possible” would be his guiding principle.

He further said that no individual or institution can succeed alone, calling for collective efforts from investors, listed companies, market intermediaries, regulators, policymakers, professional bodies, and the media to restore confidence in the stock market. He also promised to listen to opinions, suggestions, and constructive criticism from all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, former BSEC Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maksud and other commissioners resigned on Thursday, submitting their resignation letters to the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance. On the same day, the government appointed Masud Khan as the new chairman, along with three commissioners: Md. Nafiz Al Tariq, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank Securities; Supreme Court lawyer Nahid Mahtab; and Tanvir Habib Rahman, Finance Director of ASA International.

The newly appointed officials joined the commission on the same day and presented a preliminary roadmap aimed at restoring confidence in the country’s stock market.