SANGSAD BHABAN, April 30 (V7N) — Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today declared in the Jatiya Sangsad that the government is committed to maintaining a strictly non-political approach toward appointments in the country’s key financial institutions. Addressing allegations of politicization during a parliamentary session, the Minister stated that maintaining financial discipline remains a top priority for the current administration.

The Minister’s remarks followed the passage of two significant pieces of legislation: the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

In response to concerns raised by the opposition, Khosru emphasized that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has already made a policy decision to exclude political figures from leadership roles in the financial sector.

"The Governor of Bangladesh Bank is not a member of any political party," the Minister clarified, adding that supporting election activities as a citizen does not equate to formal party membership. He argued that historic BNP administrations have a track record of appointing non-political heads to the central bank and the BSEC, which he credited for the financial stability observed during those periods.

The Finance Minister painted a sobering picture of the insurance industry, describing it as being in a "very difficult situation." He attributed the sector's current struggles to a history of mismanagement, corruption, and the emergence of companies through political patronage that fail to comply with existing regulations. The new amendments are intended to bring these entities under stricter regulatory oversight.

Addressing the specific changes in the bills, Khosru explained that the government is removing or reconsidering age barriers for leadership roles to align with global standards.

Life Expectancy: He noted that when previous laws were enacted, average life expectancy was 57, whereas it is now approximately 72.

Global Practices: "In almost all countries where securities commissions operate successfully, there is no such age barrier," he said.

Attracting Talent: The Minister argued that attracting highly qualified and skilled individuals to navigate Bangladesh's "new economic context" requires flexibility rather than "emotional" restrictions.

The session witnessed a rare procedural moment when Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal allowed an informal debate after the bills had already been passed by voice vote. While the Rules of Procedure do not typically allow for discussion post-passage, the Deputy Speaker permitted Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to speak, prompting a detailed rebuttal from the Finance Minister.

Khosru acknowledged that while the discussion was technically outside the rules, he felt it was necessary to address the opposition's questions to ensure transparency in the legislative process.

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