BICM holds research seminar on orange bonds and gender impact reporting

The 45th Research Seminar of the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM) was held on 23 June 2025 at the institute's multipurpose hall. The keynote paper, titled "Orange Bonds and Gender-Disaggregated Impact Reporting: Best Practices, Gaps and Relevance for Bangladesh," was presented by Mr Faima Akter, Lecturer at BICM, with co-author Mr S. M. Kalbeen Salima, Assistant Professor at BICM.

The seminar was chaired by Acting Executive President Mr Najmus Salehin. The chief guest, Ms Farzana Lalarukh, Commissioner of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), highlighted ongoing efforts to introduce innovative products in the capital market. She emphasised that Orange Bonds, as a new financial instrument, carry unique features designed to empower women and deliver broader societal benefits. Ms Lalarukh also noted that stakeholders must consider current global conflicts while preparing to adopt such products, expressing hope that BICM's research would ease their introduction.

Discussants included Professor Shabnaz Amin (Aditi) from the University of Dhaka's Department of Finance, Mr Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners Limited, and Mr Debashish Roy, Director of Advisory and Partnerships at Impact Investment Exchange Bangladesh. They engaged in detailed deliberations on the presentation's key themes.

The seminar was moderated by Mr Faisal Ahmed Khan, Associate Professor (acting) at BICM. This event is part of BICM's ongoing initiative to enhance research quality among its internal researchers. Faculty members, officials, and invited guests attended the seminar, enriching the dialogue on advancing capital market innovation in Bangladesh.