The Board of Directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited are adopting the following code of conduct for all directors of the Company.

Purpose of Code of Conduct

The Board adopts this 'Code of Conduct' to reflect its commitment to the highest standard of ethical and business conduct and to comply with the laws and regulations of the Regulatory Authorities and also Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Bank.

Applicability and Scope

The Code of Conduct is applicable to all directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited. This code will also be followed by the Board of Directors of the Subsidiary Companies of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited.

Members are expected to comply with the following standards to enhance and maintain the reputation of the company.

Objective and Underlying Principles

The code of conduct for Directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited intends to establish highest level of business/professional ethics to be followed for establishing a fair and transparent Islamic Banking. In discharging  the functions, the directors shall adhere to the following fundamental principles:

• Fairness and Transparency in dealing with matters relating to the Bank. 
• Compliance with all laws /rules/regulations laid down by the Bangladesh Bank and BSEC.
• Exercising due diligence in the performance of duties, and
• Avoidance of conflict of interest between self-interests of Directors and interests of the Bank and its shareholders; 

Code of Conduct

a. Meetings & Minutes

•  Meeting of the Board of Directors and General Meetings, notices, agenda, minutes of the meetings shall be in accordance with the Bank Companies Act-1991 (amended up to 2013) & the Companies Act-1994.
• In the event that a Director is of the view that his dissenting note has not been satisfactorily recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the Board, he may refer the matter to the Company Secretary. The relevant Director may require the note to be appended to the minutes during confirmation of the minutes.
• Director(s) shall not participate in the discussion on a matter in which any conflict of interest exists or arises, whether pecuniary or otherwise, and in such cases the same shall be disclosed and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

 

b. Regulatory Compliances

• The Directors shall ensure that the Bank abides by existing laws, rules & regulations prevailing in the land, applicable to the company. Any case of noncompliance with applicable law may subject a Director to disciplinary action.
• The Directors shall ensure compliance at all levels so that the regulatory system does not suffer any breaches.
• The Directors shall not support any decision in the meeting of the Board which may adversely affect the interest of Shareholders and the Managing Director shall report forthwith any such decision to Regulatory Authorities.
• Directors shall always maintain 'Fit and Proper Test Criteria', clean CIB report status and other obligations declared by the Regulators. 

 

c. General Responsibilities

• The Directors shall ensure performing activities of the Bank to uphold the best interests of the shareholders and the company, its management authorities, shareholders and other stake-holders through operating with the highest level of honesty and integrity.
• The Directors shall remain properly informed about the business and affairs of IBBL. Directors should review and devote appropriate time to studying Board related laws and issues, the international best practices, their fiduciary obligations, code of conduct & also Sharia'h aspects of the Islamic Banking  etc.
• The Directors shall make inquiries about potential problems that come to their attention and follow up until they are reasonably satisfied that management is addressing them appropriately.
• The Directors shall carry out their fiduciary duties with a sense of objective judgment and independence in the best interests of the Bank and its depositors and shareholders.
• The Directors shall submit necessary disclosures/statement of holdings/dealings in securities and required by the existing laws from time to time as per their rules, regulations and bye-laws
• Members shall be judicious about their entitlement of benefit/privileges as per Bank Companies Act-1991 (amended up to 2013), Circulars issued by Bangladesh Bank and shall be willing to produce supporting documents, if required.
• Directors should protect the Company's assets and ensure their efficient use for legitimate business purposes related to the company.
• Directors may not own, either directly or indirectly, a substantial interest in any business entity that does or seeks to do business with or is in competition with Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited.
• The Directors shall perform their duties in an independent and objective manner and avoid activities that may impair, or may appear to impair, their independence or objectivity or official responsibilities.
• The Directors shall put in place for an annual evaluation of the Board’s own performance.
• The Directors shall not, in any way, interfere in the activities of the management of the Bank.

 

d. 'Inside Information' and Securities Trading

• It is prohibited to trade securities or to disseminate others to trade securities of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited or other companies on the basis of material information before it is made publicly available to ordinary investors through appropriate media.
• Members shall comply with provisions of the Bank's Memorandum & Articles of Association while making sale-buy of Company's share and shall refrain from making such transaction without formal declaration. 

 

e. Avoidance of Conflict of Interest

The Directors shall not take improper advantage of the position as a director. Any situation that creates or appears to create a conflict of interest must be avoided. Some of the more common conflicts, which directors must avoid, are set out below.

i. Relationship of Company with third-parties

Directors may not receive a personal benefit from a person or firm which is seeking to do business or to retain business with the Company, unless such a relationship is fully disclosed by the interested director and approved by the vote of the directors disinterested in the transaction.
 
ii. Gifts, Favors and Entertainment

No gift, favor, or entertainment should be accepted or provided, in the role as a Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited from any persons or entities who deal with the Company where any such gifts are being made in order to influence the directors' actions as a member of the Board. 

iii. Compensation from non-Company sources

Directors may not accept compensation (in any form) for services performed by the Director for the Company from any source other than the Company.

iv. Family Members and Close Personal Relationships

• A conflict of interest may arise when doing business with or competing with organizations that employ or are partially owned by family members or close personal friends.
• Family members includes spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, son-in- law, and daughter-in-law alongside the dependents of the aforesaid person.
• Directors should disclose any such relationships to the Chairman of the Board and to the Secretary to determine the best course of action.

v. Disclosure

With many issues, the best way to avoid embarrassing conflict of interest situations is to disclose any that have the potential to be misinterpreted by others, including other directors, employees, customers, suppliers and the public. Questions about potential conflict of interest situations and disclosure of these situations as they arise should be directed to the Chairman of the Board

f. Protecting Confidential Information

Confidential information acquired by the Board of Directors in the course of exercise of directorial duties shall remain the property of the company and it will be improper to disclose or allow it to be disclosed, for personal benefit or to benefit persons or entities outside the Company, except with the expressed or implied consent of the Board or as required by law.

g. Competitive Information

Information about competitors & customers is a valuable asset in the highly competitive markets in which Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited operates. Board of Directors ensures, on behalf of IBBL, to obtain such kind of information legally. Theft of proprietary information, inducing disclosures by a competitor's past or present employees and any actions that could create an appearance of an improper agreement with competitors is prohibited.

Waiver of any provision of the Code of Conduct

• Waiver of any provision of the Code of Conduct can only be made by the Board of Directors, and shall be granted only in very exceptional circumstances which is not opposed to the law of the land.
• If any Director believes that an act prohibited in the Code of Conduct has occurred, then he or she will promptly report the same to the Chairman of the Board. In this regard, the decision of the Board will be final.