DHAKA, Oct 29, 2025 (BSS) – The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) is undergoing a significant transition, aiming to ensure a modern, service, and customer-centric institution rather than solely a regulatory body.

 This was the central message conveyed during a recent meeting with the Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA) held today, said a press release.

 A 15-member delegation from BCMEA, led by Senior Vice President Md Mamunur Rashid, FCMA, met with DSE management to discuss the framework, process, and potential benefits of capital market listing for the association's member companies.

Welcoming the BCMEA delegation, Mohammad Asadur Rahman, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Managing Director of DSE, announced that the exchange is currently undertaking a critical transformation journey.

A key initiative involves a major digital overhaul of the primary market and the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, he added.

He stated that while completing an IPO historically took two to four years, the DSE is now targeting completion within six months.

 He added that new IPO rules are expected to be approved soon, which will empower the exchange and allow the entire process to be completed online.

To streamline compliance for existing listed companies, he mentioned that the DSE is planning to launch a Central Digital Submission System.

 He said this system will allow companies to submit all necessary information, including Price Sensitive Information (PSI), shareholding updates, and management changes, in one place.

 Asadur Rahman also addressed the long-standing issue of market supply weakness caused by a shortage of new company listings.

He highlighted that the DSE’s three boards—the Main Board, the SME Board, and the ATB Board—are creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to secure long-term financing, helping to balance the current heavy reliance on bank financing.

He emphasized that the core objective of the DSE's transformation is to engage the industrial sector in the capital market, viewing a strong capital market as the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

BCMEA Senior Vice President Md. Mamunur Rashid, FCMA, praised the DSE's transition efforts as timely and positive. 

He noted that direct discussions with the business community regarding the listing process, timeline, and challenges are a commendable step that will help increase confidence in the market.

However, Rashid pointed out significant hurdles facing the capital market. 

He stated that while Bangladesh’s economy has achieved substantial growth over the past five decades, equity financing remains extremely limited. 

Currently, approximately 98 percent of industrial investment relies on banks and financial institutions, which he identified as a major impediment to establishing a sustainable capital market, he added.

 To address this, the BCMEA called for initiatives to simplify the IPO process, shorten the checklist for listing rules and documentation, and implement tax and dividend policies that are more investment-friendly. 

He acknowledged that compliance costs-such as fees for issue managers, auditors, and regulatory bodies-often create financial and administrative pressure for companies. 

Nonetheless, he observed that recent digital initiatives by the DSE, including online AGMs, hybrid meetings, and electronic filing systems, have significantly reduced this complexity in recent years.

 In conclusion, speakers recommended further steps to ensure market growth and stability. These include strengthening corporate governance practices, reducing compliance costs, enhancing the transparency of issue managers' activities, and organizing overseas road shows to attract international investors.