The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has issued new guidelines for trading and Qualified Investor Offer (QIO) participation on the stock exchange’s SME platform. According to the directive signed by BSEC Chairman Khondkar Rashed Maksud on Tuesday, any institution or individual investor must have a minimum investment of Tk 3 million, based on either market or purchase value, to qualify for SME platform trading. Foreign investors with accounts under a registered securities custodian in Bangladesh will also be eligible to trade on the platform.

The directive further states that non-individual investors must meet the same Tk 3 million minimum investment requirement to apply for QIOs. For individual Bangladeshi investors, both resident and non-resident, the minimum investment threshold for QIO applications is set at Tk 1 million. Foreign investors can apply through accounts maintained with registered securities custodians in Bangladesh.

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) and depository participants will provide quarterly updates on eligible investors to the stock exchanges, which will maintain separate registers for QIO subscriptions and SME trading. Investors below the Tk 3 million threshold may sell but cannot purchase new SME shares.