Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), the country’s capital market regulator, will be reshuffled within the next two weeks.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Budget 2026-27: Expectations and Implementation,” organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) on Tuesday.
The finance minister said the BSEC is being reorganised to restore confidence in the capital market. The chairman and commissioners have been selected on a fully professional basis, without any political consideration.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the new leadership is expected to bring significant positive changes to the capital market.
“Professionals who truly understand the capital market are being given responsibility, and the results will be visible within the next two weeks,” he said.
He further stated that many reputable companies had previously been reluctant to enter the stock market for various reasons.
However, due to the changing environment, a growing number of companies are now showing interest in listing.
“Many entrepreneurs are now expressing their willingness to enter the stock market because they want to be listed on a real stock exchange, not a ‘casino’,” he said.
According to the minister, listing quality companies will reduce dependence on bank financing and enable firms to raise long-term funds through shares and bonds.
Speaking about the capital market, Amir Khosru recalled the establishment of Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL).
He said there had once been widespread irregularities, including forged share certificates, multiple sales of the same shares, and the pledging of the same shares more than once. To address these problems, an initiative was taken to shift from a paper-based share system to an electronic one.
“As the founding chairman of CDBL, I was personally involved in this initiative. We had to pass laws in Parliament and convince various institutions. At that time, many people did not understand what CDBL was,” he said.
According to him, the capital market has become significantly more modern and transparent through online and real-time trading.
The finance minister said that due to years of looting and irregularities, many banks in the country are currently undercapitalised. At the same time, many investors have suffered losses.
He said the biggest challenge now is to recapitalise the banks and ensure an adequate flow of capital to the private sector.
He added that this cannot be achieved by the government alone, and discussions are ongoing with international financial institutions and global fund managers.
The minister said the International Finance Corporation (IFC), global fund managers, and large investment institutions are showing growing interest in Bangladesh.
He noted that major international investment firms such as JP Morgan are exploring opportunities in Bangladesh, adding that the country is receiving a positive response from the international investment community.
The finance minister said many banks are currently providing long-term loans at interest rates of 12% to 13%, which is not sustainable because bank deposits are generally short-term in nature.
“Banks are providing thousands of crores of taka in long-term loans, which is not their core function,” he said.
He added that if an efficient and vibrant capital market is developed, a significant portion of long-term financing will come from the market, thereby reducing pressure on the banking sector.
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