TBT DESK: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) has organised a conference in Dhaka aimed at strengthening women’s leadership, corporate governance and boardroom diversity across professional and corporate sectors.

The “Women in Leadership and Governance Conference 2026” was held at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, bringing together policymakers, regulators, corporate executives, development partners, and representatives of professional bodies, according to a press release.

The event was inaugurated by Member of Parliament Abdul Moyeen Khan, who highlighted the growing contribution of women to Bangladesh’s socio-economic development and stressed the need for greater representation in leadership positions and corporate boards.

Former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury and MP Barrister Jahrat Adib Chowdhury attended as guests of honour.

ICAB leadership, including President N K A Mobin and Vice-President Suraiya Zannath, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and expanding opportunities for women in leadership roles.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Akhtar Sanjida Kasem, the first woman chartered accountant in Bangladesh in practice, who shared insights from ICAB’s Gender Dashboard and Women on Boards Survey, highlighting both progress and remaining gaps in female representation.

The conference featured multiple panel discussions focusing on professional leadership, women’s advancement in corporate services and increased participation of women in boardrooms.

Participants included representatives from professional bodies such as ICAB, ICMAB, ACCA, ICSB and IIAB, along with executives from banks, multinational companies and insurance firms.

The programme also included “Inspire to Aspire” sessions featuring Rupali Chowdhury and mountaineer Nishat Mazumdar, who shared their experiences of leadership and perseverance.

The conference concluded with recognition of mentors and mentees under ICAB’s Ascend Mentorship Programme, celebrating efforts to build a stronger pipeline of future women leaders in the country’s professional landscape.