Dhaka : BRAC EPL investments limited (BEIL), a leading investment bank in Bangladesh, has recently signed a strategic MoU with Impact investment exchange (IIX), a global leader in gender-lens investing, to launch Bangladesh’s first orange Bonds, orange Sukuk and other thematic impact-investment instruments. The collaboration combines BEIL’s capital market expertise with IIX’s leadership in innovative finance to facilitate Bangladesh’s transition from an LDC to a Middle-Income nation by 2026. Orange Bonds are guided by the Orange Bond Principles™ and comply with other international sustainability standards such as the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, and Sustainability Bond Guidelines. The signing ceremony was attended by Prof Durreen Shahnaz, Founder CEO, IIX; Debashis Roy, Director, advisory partnerships, IIX; Fahima Choudhury Keya, Chairman, BEIL; Syed Rashed Hussain, CEO, BEIL; Anup Datta, Head of Corporate Advisory, BEIL; along with other members of the project team, according to a press release.
BEIL has two decades of experience in the Capital Market and is renowned for introducing multiple-pioneering investment banking solutions. Syed Rashed Hussain, CEO of BEIL said: “ Orange Bonds offer a unique opportunity to unlock capital for SME and women-led enterprises in Bangladesh, delivering a sustainable and inclusive growth.” Prof. Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX said: “Bringing Orange Bonds to Bangladesh is not just innovative finance, it is about transforming underserved communities and empowering women to drive systemic change.” Since 2009, IIX has been a pioneer in the global impact investing movement, reshaping finance for sustainable development with a focus on gender equality and climate action through capital mobilization and data-driven solutions. Through this partnership, BEIL and IIX will support issuer readiness, advise on thematic bond structures, engage regulators, and bring together domestic and international investors to build a vibrant and inclusive impact investment ecosystem.
