The securities regulator has extended the deadline for listed companies to appoint at least one female independent director to their boards by one year, to December 2026, after many firms said they were struggling to find qualified candidates.
In a directive issued on Sunday, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) revised the compliance deadline for the requirement under the Corporate Governance Code, 2018, from December 2025 to December 2026.
The extension follows requests from listed companies and market stakeholders, who cited difficulties in identifying eligible and qualified female professionals to serve as independent directors within the stipulated timeframe.
The requirement, stipulated under Condition 1(2)(a) of the Corporate Governance Code, mandates every listed company to appoint at least one female independent director as part of efforts to strengthen corporate governance, board diversity and independent oversight.
According to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), more than 100 listed companies had yet to comply with the provision as of June this year.
A BSEC official said the requirement remains an important component of the Corporate Governance Code. However, considering the practical challenges faced by companies and their requests, the commission decided to grant additional time for compliance.
The directive also instructed the Dhaka Stock Exchange and the Chittagong Stock Exchange to immediately notify all listed companies and relevant stakeholders of the revised deadline to facilitate timely complisance.
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