Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: File Photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 6, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today informed Parliament that the government has a specific plan to develop the country’s stock market and make it vibrant and dynamic as a long-term source of financing.

Replying to a starred tabled question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Fakhrul Islam (Noakhali-5), he said the government is firmly committed to strengthening the capital market and transforming it into a sustainable and long-term financing hub. 

He added that the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has been working relentlessly to achieve this goal.

“Considering the vital role of the capital market in economic development, the government has included specific commitments in its election manifesto to improve the sector,” he said.

The finance minister noted that investors’ confidence is closely linked with capital market development. “Therefore, the government has taken initiatives to ensure good governance, transparency, accountability, diversification of financial products, and expansion of investment education to build a sustainable capital market,” he said.

Measures to increase market depth:
The government has taken several initiatives to enhance market depth, including forming a strong bond market to establish the capital market as a major source of long-term financing, listing fundamentally strong companies in the stock market, and listing unlisted state-owned enterprises.

He said steps are being taken to introduce Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), Sukuk (Islamic bonds), and green bonds, ensure good governance in mutual funds to attract general investors, and introduce commodity and financial derivatives.

Ensuring transparency and discipline:

To ensure transparency, accountability, and discipline in the market, the government is working to prevent irregularities and market manipulation, strengthen investigation and enforcement activities, modernize and digitize the capital market, ensure easy market access from home and abroad, protect whistleblowers, and ensure corporate governance.

Legal reforms underway:

The finance minister said a draft of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 2025 is under review by merging the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969 and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 1993.

He also said a draft of the Capital Market Stabilization Fund Act, 2026 is under review to ensure proper management and settlement of undistributed dividends, IPO funds, and unclaimed shares.

In addition, new rules are being formulated for whistleblower protection, corporate governance rules 2026, amendments to Debt Securities Rules 2021 to include sustainable bonds, and enlistment of panel auditors and audit firms.

Investment education and awareness:
To increase investment awareness, the government is planning to include investment education in school, college, and university curricula, organize nationwide training for young entrepreneurs, and involve district and upazila administrations in awareness programs.

The minister said district commissioners, divisional commissioners, and upazila executive officers are being engaged in awareness activities, while district information offices are expanding public awareness campaigns.

Under the “Safe Investment, Aware Citizen” programme, grassroots training and campaigns are being conducted. Investment-related content and videos are regularly uploaded on BSEC’s website, Facebook, and YouTube channels.

Khosru added that Bangladesh Television has taken an initiative to broadcast a fortnightly investment education programme titled “Pujibazarer Jana-Ajana,” and the activities are ongoing.