Dhaka: The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) convened a stakeholder consultation meeting on Thursday to discuss its draft "BSEC (Direct Listing of Securities by Stock Exchange) Rules, 2026." The meeting, held at the commission's Agargaon office, aimed to develop a transparent regulatory framework for the direct listing of fundamentally strong companies on the capital market.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting was chaired by BSEC Chairman Masud Khan and included participation from BSEC commissioners, senior officials of the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange, and presidents of the Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC) and the Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA). Also present were representatives from both listed and non-listed companies, merchant banks, issue managers, and other market stakeholders.
Representatives from over two dozen companies, including Unilever, Metlife, Nestl© Bangladesh, and Banglalink, participated in the meeting. The consultation featured a presentation on the draft rules, which outlined criteria for eligible companies, the application and listing process, listing conditions, and the price discovery mechanism.
Participants shared views and suggestions concerning the proposed rules, emphasizing the importance of introducing genuinely capable companies to the market while ensuring investor protection and market discipline. BSEC Chairman Masud Khan highlighted the scarcity of fundamentally strong companies in the country's capital market and expressed the commission's intent to attract well-established, family-run companies through direct listing to enhance market depth and width.
The chairman noted the benefits of listing, including enhanced company reputation, potential share price appreciation, and greater share liquidity. He also mentioned possible tax benefits and the opportunity for sponsors to liquidate their shareholdings. Khan added that the commission is working to improve IPO rules and considering a hybrid approach that combines existing share offloading with fresh share issuance to expand listing opportunities.
Some company representatives expressed interest in direct listing, while others preferred a hybrid approach. Participants welcomed the BSEC's initiative and committed to ongoing cooperation and input on the matter.