Academics, distinguished Shari'ah scholars, regulators, policymakers and leading bankers at a roundtable on Saturday stressed the need to build specialised human capital and adopt a systems-oriented approach to Islamic finance that goes beyond mere transactional compliance.
The roundtable, titled State of Islamic Banking and Finance in Bangladesh, was organised by IBFC Thrive with Shari'ah in collaboration with IDLC Islamic, the Islamic finance window of IDLC Finance PLC.
The event was held at the DR Tower Conference Room in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, according to a press release.
The gathering brought together industry practitioners and thought leaders to foster informed, forward-looking and policy-oriented dialogue on the evolving landscape of Islamic finance in Bangladesh.
The event also marked the formal unveiling of the second edition of Islamic Banking and Finance in Bangladesh: Annual Review 2025 (IBFBD 2025), published by IBFC Thrive with Shari'ah.
Deliberations focused on key strategic themes, including Shari'ah governance and decision-making, the development of principles-based Islamic regulations, Shari'ah-compliant government instruments and liquidity management, financial reporting and auditing frameworks, sustainability in Islamic finance, governance and risk challenges, human capital development, and the advancement of Islamic capital markets, Takaful and Islamic social finance.
Speakers highlighted the need for reliable data and research to inform Shari'ah decisions, stronger operational integration of compliance mechanisms, and enhanced governance standards across institutions.
Representatives from Bangladesh Bank outlined ongoing regulatory initiatives, including the formulation of Shari'ah governance guidelines, draft Islamic banking legislation, and the development of new liquidity management and Sukuk-related instruments.
Experts also pointed to gaps in financial reporting standards and recommended the selective adoption of standards issued by Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), alongside existing regulatory frameworks.
The roundtable generated substantive policy reflections and practical recommendations aimed at strengthening Shari'ah governance, enhancing regulatory discipline, bolstering institutional resilience, and ensuring the sustainable growth of Islamic banking and finance in Bangladesh.
