“This project set a new benchmark for regulatory reform in Bangladesh. It empowered institutions, educated stakeholders, and embedded resilience into the fabric of the country’s insurance oversight.” — Russell Leith, Director, Insurance Finance and Risk, GG International
— Bangladesh —
integrity. reform. empowerment.
Building Foundations of Trust: Regulatory Reform and Capacity Development in Bangladesh’s Insurance Sector
"Insurance regulation is not merely about compliance—it is about cultivating a culture of protection, trust, and long-term economic resilience."
— Asian Development Bank, Financial Sector Development Strategy Paper, 2010
Challenge
Following the liberalization of Bangladesh’s financial sector in the early 2000s, the country’s insurance market grew rapidly in terms of participants but remained underdeveloped in governance, supervision, and consumer trust. The sector was largely fragmented, with over 60 private insurers operating under outdated legislation—the Insurance Act of 1938—originally designed during the British colonial era.
By 2009, the Government of Bangladesh recognized that the absence of modern regulatory tools, institutional frameworks, and market discipline was impeding both public confidence and sectoral growth. Critical issues included:
- Lack of modern insurance legislation to reflect international best practices.
- Poor reporting standards, with no unified risk-based supervisory process.
- Limited institutional capacity within the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) to conduct effective oversight
- Low levels of financial literacy and stakeholder engagement, particularly among smaller insurers and policyholders in rural areas.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), under its broader Financial Sector Reform Program, funded a strategic technical assistance initiative to support the development of a modern insurance regulatory regime and build institutional capacity in Bangladesh.
Strategy
In December 2009, GG International’s Director of Insurance Finance and Risk, Russell Leith, was appointed as lead advisor for the project. Over the course of multiple in-country missions and remote support engagements extending through October 2010, Leith worked closely with IDRA and the Ministry of Finance to design and implement a suite of transformative reforms:
- Legal Review and Legislative Drafting: A detailed analysis of the existing Insurance Act and accompanying regulations was conducted, leading to a comprehensive set of recommendations. These informed the drafting of a new Insurance Act, which aimed to bring the sector in line with core principles of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).
- Stakeholder Engagement and Workshops: Seven national-level workshops were delivered for stakeholders including public and private insurers, actuaries, brokers, and policymakers. These sessions introduced proposed regulatory reforms, enhanced understanding of supervisory expectations, and created a feedback loop that informed implementation.
- Regulatory Reporting and Policy Development: New reporting templates, prudential norms, and risk-based supervision protocols were developed. These tools helped IDRA transition from a compliance-based to a forward-looking supervisory model.
- Capacity-Building Framework: A strategic plan for institutional strengthening was crafted, identifying workforce skill gaps, recommending targeted training programs, and proposing collaboration with actuarial and legal training institutes to build long-term talent pipelines.
Transformation
The ADB-funded intervention delivered by GG International laid the groundwork for a new era of insurance sector governance in Bangladesh. The project’s legacy continues to shape policy and practice today:
- Modernized Legal Framework: The recommendations directly contributed to the enactment of the Insurance Act 2010, which replaced outdated legislation and introduced requirements for solvency margins, corporate governance, and market conduct.
- Improved Market Confidence: With structured stakeholder education and transparent policy reform, public and investor trust in the insurance sector has increased steadily, as reflected in rising premium collection and insurer compliance rates.
- Strengthened Supervisory Authority: IDRA emerged from the project with a stronger foundation—new tools, trained personnel, and a roadmap for institutional growth that remains relevant amid ongoing digitalization and climate-risk challenges.