DHAKA, April 18, 2026 (BSS) — Describing Chartered Secretaries as the nation’s economic defense team, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), today underscored the profession's vital role in upholding corporate integrity and national economic stability. “A pervasive trust deficit currently plagues society, the direct result of systemic governance failures and a visible degradation of ethical standards,” he said. The BIDA chief made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme titled “Board Leadership,” organized by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB), at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) in the city, said a press release. In his speech, Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, contended that for Bangladesh to thrive, policymakers and business leaders must pivot from a reliance on conventional local trade toward a deep integration with the global economy. To regain the confidence of international investors and shareholders, the BIDA Chairman urged a transition from traditional administrative functions to a model of genuine stewardship. He positioned Chartered Secretaries as the primary facilitators of this transformation, noting that their expertise is essential for restoring institutional trust and ensuring that corporate entities operate with the highest levels of transparency and accountability. During the session, the leadership of the ICSB articulated several strategic policy recommendations designed to modernize the nation's regulatory framework and enhance investment facilitation. Hossain Sadat FCS, President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB), formally urged the government to include a Chartered Secretary on the BIDA Advisory Board to leverage professional governance expertise in national investment strategies. He further emphasized the urgent need for the mandatory introduction of Corporate Governance Audits and Secretarial Audits to provide systemic verification of compliance and ethical conduct. Mohammad Sanaullah FCS, Past President and Chairman of the Professional Development Committee (PDC) of ICSB, called for the enactment of a new Companies Act, arguing that updated legislation is prerequisite to attracting and sustaining significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Presenting the keynote paper, Akhter Matin Chaudhury FCA, FCS, former Councilor of ICSB, defined the Board of Directors as the central driver of governance, strategy, and sustainable value creation.  He noted that a board’s effectiveness is measured by its ability to translate statutory mandates into disciplined oversight and strategic clarity. Akhter Matin Chaudhury FCA, FCS identified ethical leadership, independence, and diversity as the foundational operational pillars of sound governance. He cautioned that regulatory complexity and existing governance gaps, particularly in family-owned enterprises, frequently create structural weaknesses.  He concluded that long-term organizational success hinges on a triad of balanced integration: control, foresight, and strategic leadership, all supported by continuous director development. The symposium featured a high-level panel discussion exploring the evolution of professional board standards.  Md. Naharul Islam Molla, Managing Director of Unilever Consumer Care, focused on the board's role in fostering sustainability through a trust-based governance culture.  He advocated for a relationship between the board and management that is both independent and constructive, emphasizing the need for forward-looking practices and adaptability. Contributing a different perspective, Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury FCS, Chief Executive Officer of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC, addressed the challenge of transforming family-owned businesses into professionally governed institutions.  He stressed the importance of the tone at the top, transparency, and the strategic utilization of external expertise and reverse mentoring.