Experts call for AI adoption, sustainability reporting, and independent financial leadership at ACCA summit
The symposium highlighted several urgent themes: sustainability reporting, ESG disclosures, AI adoption, forensic accounting, and the need for continuous professional reskilling
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Bangladesh "Thought Leadership Summit" brought together policymakers, regulators, senior finance professionals, and ACCA members at Le Meridien Dhaka to discuss how the accountancy profession must adapt in a fast-changing, technology-driven global economy.
The symposium highlighted several urgent themes: sustainability reporting, ESG disclosures, AI adoption, forensic accounting, and the need for continuous professional reskilling.
Prawma Tapashi Khan
Country Manager of ACCA Bangladesh
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
ACCA's global ethos of integrity, inclusion, and innovation and noted findings from ACCA's "Global Talent Trends 2025," which point to rising entrepreneurial spirit and a growing demand for accountants equipped with creativity, technological capability, and commercial vision. ACCA is more than a qualification — it is a global community built on shared values — and encouraged members to actively engage with ACCA's mission of serving the public interest, advancing sustainable business, and embracing world-class professional education.
Sakib Ershad
Director of Trade and Investment at the British High Commission in Bangladesh
The strategic importance of UK-Bangladesh economic cooperation across trade and investment, skills and education, and sustainability and innovation. He noted that Bangladesh enjoys duty-free access to the UK market until 2029 under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, and that partnerships with SOAS and BRAC University equip local talent for global competitiveness. The finance profession's critical role in delivering credible information for climate and investment planning and reaffirmed the UK's support for improving Bangladesh's business environment and governance reforms.
Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury
Former Finance Secretary and Chairman of Sonali Bank
ACCA members to move beyond routine reporting and prioritise verification, continuous learning, and adherence to sustainability standards. Reliance on a single qualification throughout one's career is not enough, and the ACCA syllabus must be continuously updated and aligned with global advancements. Insights emerging from ACCA symposiums should inform curriculum development, and professional institutions such as ACCA, ICAB, and ICMAB should operate free from government influence. The FRC's intended effectiveness needs to be restored, as mismanagement over time has weakened the institution.
Dr Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan
Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
The need for stronger inclusion, competition, and independence within Bangladesh's accounting ecosystem. While ICAB and ICMAB are recognised under the Financial Reporting Act 2015, globally recognised qualifications such as ACCA must also be integrated. The FRC is drafting a new "corporate governance code" aimed at empowering CFOs and enhancing accountability. Many CFOs struggle to maintain independence under board pressure, and requiring companies to consult the FRC when appointing CFOs would help strengthen the accuracy of financial reporting. ACCA members are encouraged to deepen their expertise in financial reporting, governance, and judicial processes.
Nabil J Ahmad
Executive Director (Standards Setting), FRC
As Bangladesh integrates into the global economy, adopting IFRS S1 and S2 is a vital necessity to provide international investors with the consistent, climate-related data they require specially for RMG, other export-oriented industries and all financial institutions to commit capital. FRC's roadmap focuses on a phased, collaborative implementation that equips local entities with a unified sustainability reporting framework, ensuring they remain competitive in a green-conscious market. Ultimately, the Financial Reporting Council is unwavering in its commitment to elevating corporate governance and financial transparency as the fundamental pillars of Bangladesh's economic resilience.
Pulkit Abrol
Managing Director of ACCA Asia Pacific
Bangladesh is entering a decisive phase of economic transformation shaped by AI integration, rising ESG expectations, global talent mobility, and climate-related disruptions. Discussions at the summit on policy reform, AI readiness, youth skills, and credible ESG reporting align with the capabilities Bangladesh must strengthen to remain competitive. Progress depends on collaboration among policymakers, regulators, educators, employers, and professional bodies. Bangladesh's accounting professionals will play a transformative role in guiding the country through technological and climate-related challenges in the years ahead.
Anwaruddin Chowdhury
Managing Partner at Chowdhury Shazzad Monowar & Co,
The symposium's importance for reskilling accountants in sustainability reporting, ESG disclosures, forensic accounting, and emerging areas. ACCA's unique ability to mobilise and disseminate global best practices and the need for deeper collaboration with ICAB and ICMAB. WTO agreements and the 2009 G20 Declaration, which recognised accountants' essential role in harmonising global standards. A call for Bangladesh to strengthen cybersecurity laws, adopt blockchain more widely, and incentivise sustainable practices through tax rebates and preferential financing.
Kazi M Hassan
CMO of Banglalink and Chairman of the ACCA Bangladesh Members Advisory Committee (MAC)
ACCA's global strength far exceeds its presence in Bangladesh. ACCA professionals should be allowed a more active role in shaping policy, regulatory reform, and financial transparency. In a time of global uncertainty, accountants play a decisive role in determining whether economies move toward the "best of times" or "worst of times" trajectory. The profession is transforming rapidly through AI and digital capabilities, and ESG leadership will separate nations that lead from those that lag.
Dr Kazi Iqbal
Director Research, BIDS
"The government has to have a clear understanding of what the country will produce in 5 to 10 years. This is something that cannot be left to the market alone. That's why we need a strong industrial policy with strategic directions."
Dr Melita Mehjabeen
Professor IBA, DU
"For Bangladesh, independent assurance of ESG disclosures is critical. It strengthens global confidence in our exporters, protects reputation, and supports long-term market access."
The summit transitioned into three panel discussions covering policy, future skills, and ESG.
Panel Discussion-1: "Policy for Prosperity – Leading in a Changed World"
The first panel, "Policy for Prosperity – Leading in a Changed World," began with Kazi Iqbal of BIDS, highlighting global shifts such as de-globalisation and supply-chain restructuring. He noted opportunities in AI-driven productivity and energy-transition investment but cautioned about risks such as an AI bubble. Turning to Bangladesh, he described structural shifts including rising labour productivity and declining export orientation driven by domestic demand — the "Walton effect." He stressed that industrialisation has advanced without a coherent strategy and proposed prioritising strategic sectors, improving FDI-driven technology transfer, aligning skills with industry needs, and investing in logistics and research.
Marzana F Chowdhury FCCA, Managing Director of RSM Bangladesh and Member, ACCA Bangladesh MAC, as session moderator invited panellists to identify barriers holding Bangladesh back. Masud Khan of Unilever Consumer Care pointed to challenges in governance, financial integrity, rule of law, education, and infrastructure, citing non-performing loans above 36% and potentially near 50% when restructured loans are included. Snehashish Barua of SMAC said tariffs are now political and enduring, requiring Bangladesh to secure FTAs and diversify exports. Naushad Ekramullah of EY Bangladesh highlighted the lack of predictability and transparency, citing conflicts between FDI-promotion efforts and tax practices and pointing to the outdated Insolvency Act. Panellists agreed that labour productivity gaps, infrastructure bottlenecks, and judicial delays undermine competitiveness and that Bangladesh is unprepared for LDC graduation. The moderator concluded that prosperity requires structural transformation, stronger governance, and sustained long-term planning.
Panel Discussion-2: "Shaping Future Skills by Embracing Innovation & Tech"
The second panel, "Shaping Future Skills by Embracing Innovation & Tech," focused on AI's evolving role in finance. Keynote speaker Sayaqua Moslem of PwC said accountants must understand AI fundamentals to collaborate with developers and noted that many repetitive tasks can already be automated. Syed Shakil Ahmed of Grameenphone said finance teams still face heavy manual workloads and argued that digital assistants could shift focus from routine tasks to strategic analysis, though cybersecurity risks will rise. Md Rashedul Alam Chowdhury of ADB said Bangladesh captures less than 1% of the global BPO market and urged a shift to higher-value services such as AI-based risk analysis. Sayaqua stressed that AI literacy and reskilling must be national priorities. Representing ACCA, Prawma said ACCA has integrated advanced data-science modules into its qualification. The panelist urged ACCA to work collaboratively with the employers to understand the need of potential digital skills for the job market and design ACCA training modules accordingly."
Aleef Amir Pasha said digital skills should begin at the school level. Rashed highlighted ongoing discussions on AI-enabled audit systems in the public sector. The panel concluded that Bangladesh must recognise finance and accounting as emerging export sectors.
Panel Discussion-3: ESG Leadership – Integrating Purpose with Performance
The third panel, "ESG Leadership – Integrating Purpose with Performance," opened with Melita Mehjabeen emphasising that ESG is a driver of long-term value, especially given Bangladesh's climate vulnerability. Moderator Raqibul Faiaze highlighted challenges such as fragmented reporting, compliance costs, and greenwashing, as well as expectations from ACCA and its Members/Future Members. Nabil Jasim Ahmad of FRC said compliance alone cannot guarantee meaningful outcomes, noting that only 39 listed companies report ESG data. As one of ISSB's 30 global capacity-building partners supporting IFRS S1 and S2 implementation, ACCA is expected to lead initiatives for sustainable adoption of Sustainability Reporting standards, alongside its Members and Future Members. Discussions highlighted how Bangladeshi regulators can leverage global organisations' research and training resources, with ACCA playing a key role. Nabil emphasised that Bangladesh will need many skilled professionals in this domain, and ACCA, together with its Members, can significantly contribute to this journey. Shweta Mathur of PwC said ESG challenges stem from data-quality gaps and stressed collaboration between financial and sustainability professionals. Md Tapan Mahmud said accounting education must move toward governance and accountability. Saifur Rahman of Green Delta Insurance noted that ESG is increasingly tied to financing costs. Arifur Rahman of Emerging Credit Rating Ltd said robust assurance frameworks are needed to prevent greenwashing. Panelists agreed that Bangladesh must adopt global standards while building local expertise.
Across keynote speeches and panel discussions, the summit underscored that Bangladesh's accountancy profession must rapidly strengthen its digital, sustainability, and governance capabilities. AI, ESG, and global competitiveness are reshaping expectations, and coordinated action among policymakers, regulators, educators, and professionals will determine how effectively Bangladesh adapts to a transformed economic landscape.
This year's theme, "Navigating Change, Building Resilience – Leading in a Changed World," sparked powerful discussions across policy, technology, skills, and sustainability.
From opening insights by ACCA Country Manager Mrs Prawma Tapashi Khan, FCCA and Mr Pulkit Abrol Director Asia Pacific – ACCA (through virtual connect) to keynote messages from leading experts across Bangladesh and the region, each session explored opportunities shaping the future of the profession.
The summit also featured contributions, insights and remarks from the Chief Guest Mr Sakib Ershad - Director of Trade & Investment at The British High Commission Dhaka; Mr Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury - Chairman, Sonali Bank, Former CAG Bangladesh, Ex-Finance Secretary, Government of Bangladesh as Guest of Honor; Dr Md Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan - Chairman FRC Bangladesh as Guest of Honor; Mr Nabil Jasim Ahmad – Executive Director FRC Bangladesh as Panelist and key contributor; Mr Anwaruddin Chowdhury FCA - Managing Partner, Chowdhury Shazzad Monowar CA as Special Guest; Mr Kazi M Hassan FCCA – CMO Banglalink & Chairman ACCA Bangladesh MAC as Special Guest; Dr Kazi Iqbal – Research Director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) as Keynote Speaker; Ms Sayaqua Moslem – Director of Financial Services, PWC Bangladesh as Keynote Speaker; Dr Melita Mehjabeen – Professor IBA, University of Dhaka as Keynote Speaker; Ms Marzana F. Chowdhury FCCA, Managing Director of RSM Bangladesh and Member, ACCA Bangladesh MAC, RSM Bangladesh as Session Moderator; Mr Masud Khan FCA – Chairman Unilever Consumer Care as Panelist; Mr Naushad Ekramullah – Partner and MD EY Bangladesh as Panelist; Mr Snehasish Barua FCA – Partner SMAC as Panelist; Ms Mohsena Khanom Munna FCCA – Co-Founder De Tempête as Session Moderator; Mr Aleef Amir Pasha FCCA – Head of Treasury Grameenphone Ltd as Panelist; Mr Md Rashedul Alam Chowdhury FCCA - Financial Management Officer, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Member ACCA Bangladesh MAC as Panelist; Mr Syed Shakil Ahmed Head of AI Strategy & Development, Grameenphone Ltd. as Panelist; Mr Raqibul Faiaze Md Ikramah FCCA – Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting and Deputy Director, Grameenphone Ltd and Vice Chairman ACCA Bangladesh MAC as Session Moderator; Ms Shweta Mathur – Sustainability Expert as Panelist; Dr Md Tapan Mahmud – Chairman, Dept of Accounting, Faculty of Business Studies, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) as Panelist; Mr Arifur Rahman FCCA - CEO, Emerging Credit Rating Ltd. and Member ACCA Bangladesh MAC as Panelist; and Mr Saifur Rahman ACCA FCMA, CGMA – CFO Green Delta Insurance PLC. as Panelist whose insights enriched the dialogue.
Key highlights of the Symposium included:
- Policy priorities for Bangladesh's economic resilience
- The rise of AI, digital finance, and future skills
- ESG readiness, ISSB adoption, and responsible governance
Some important resource links related to the subject matters and ACCA products:
ACCA Future of Qualification
ACCA AI Hub
ACCA Sustainability Hub
ACCA Policy & Insights
