Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh

What Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh does

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) is the sole statutory national professional accounting body in Bangladesh, established under the Bangladesh Chartered Accountants Order, 1973 (President's Order No. 2 of 1973). It regulates the chartered accountancy profession by administering a three-tier qualification (Certificate, Professional, Advanced), overseeing articleship training at registered firms, issuing ACA/FCA membership and Certificate of Practice, enforcing ethics through its Investigation & Disciplinary Committee, and adopting IFRS and ISA standards. It serves a base of approximately 31,000 students, 2,034 members (1,589 Fellows, 445 Associates), and 258 registered CA firms as of July 2025.

ICAB operates a unified digital platform stack supporting its regulatory and educational mandate: the Document Verification System (DVS) for verifying audited financial statements submitted to the National Board of Revenue (NBR); an online examination portal for CA assessments; a Digital Learning Hub for student and member resources; dedicated Member and Student Admission portals; a CPD platform tracking continuing professional development; and an ICAB mobile application. All practicing CAs must register with DVS and generate Document Verification Certificates for audit submissions, making the portal mandatory infrastructure for the profession. The technology architecture is portal-based and workflow-oriented rather than AI-driven.

ICAB's revenue mechanics derive from annual membership subscription fees (Fellow and Associate tiers), admission and examination fees across three levels, CA firm registration and renewal fees, Certificate of Practice issuance, IFRS publication licensing (under MoU with the IFRS Foundation), and digital-platform-related fees for DVS-related services. Distribution is through 8 branch offices across Bangladesh (Dhaka/Mirpur, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Barishal, Sylhet), 2 regional committees (Dhaka and Chattogram), 3 overseas chapters (UK, North America, Asia Pacific), and a network of 258 registered CA firms that deliver articled-student training. Internationally, ICAB holds reciprocity and pathway agreements with ICAEW, CIPFA, CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and is a founding member of IFAC.

Name

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh

Legal name

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh

Website

https://icab.org.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) is the sole statutory national professional accounting body in Bangladesh, established in 1973. It regulates the chartered accountancy profession by administering CA examinations, issuing ACA/FCA membership, enforcing ethics, and operating the mandatory Document Verification System for audits submitted to the National Board of Revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Body Regulation

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Public Administration (92), Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAA

Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDAAANAD

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDADAFAA

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

SECONDARYEDADAFAK

Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

SECONDARYBPAIAOAA

Business Registration & Corporate Affairs (Registries)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Regulatory Agencies & Licensing (Cross-sector)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy regulation
• Professional accounting body
• CA examination services
• Accountancy professional training
• Auditing standards adoption

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ICAB generates revenue through annual membership fees, admission fees for ACA and FCA membership, certificate of practice fees, and subscription fees from members.
2. Examination Fees: Revenue from conducting CA Certificate Level, Professional Level, and Advanced Level examinations, including application fees and examination fees.
3. CA Firms Registration: Registration and regulation of CA firms including proprietorship (113) and partnership (145) firms totaling 258 registered firms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) is the sole national professional accounting body in Bangladesh, established under President's Order No. 2 of 1973. It regulates the chartered accountancy profession by administering a three-tier CA qualification program (Certificate, Professional, and Advanced levels), conducting examinations, admitting members as Associates (ACA) and Fellows (FCA), registering and overseeing 258 CA firms, and enforcing professional and ethical standards. It also runs a mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program and operates the Document Verification System (DVS) jointly with the National Board of Revenue to authenticate audited financial statements.

Product overview

ICAB operates as a professional accountancy regulatory body with a unified platform architecture centered on membership services, education, and professional development. Its core digital products include the Document Verification System (DVS) for regulatory compliance with NBR, an Online Examination System for CA assessments, a Digital Learning Hub for knowledge resources, and dedicated Member and Student Admission Portals for automating professional qualification pathways. Supporting products include the ICAB Mobile Application, the CPD platform for continuing education, and publications (The Bangladesh Accountant journal, Monthly Bulletin, Bangladesh Economia). The CA Articleship Program provides mandatory practical training, while CA Examination Services administer the three-tier qualification (Certificate, Professional, and Advanced levels). The organization also publishes Annual Reports documenting institutional activities and governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CA Qualification Program A structured three-level Chartered Accountancy qualification program (Certificate Level, Professional Level, and Advanced Level) aligned with the ICAEW curriculum, offered to individuals pursuing the CA profession in Bangladesh. Approximately 31,000 students are currently enrolled.
• CA Articleship Program A mandatory practical training program for CA students requiring 2-4 years of supervised training at registered CA firms, covering accounting, auditing, taxation, IT, finance, and business skills.
• CA Examination Services Comprehensive examination administration for CA qualification, including Certificate Level, Professional Level, and Advanced Level examinations with online examination, script review, past question papers, and suggested answers.
• Member Admission (ACA and FCA) Formal admission pathways for qualified accountants to become Associate Chartered Accountants (ACA) or Fellow Chartered Accountants (FCA), the two membership tiers of ICAB.
• Document Verification System (DVS) A mandatory digital portal developed in partnership with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) that allows Chartered Accountants to register audited financial statements and generate Document Verification Certificates (DVC) for submission with tax returns, reducing corporate tax fraud and ensuring authenticity of audit reports.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program A mandatory continuing professional development program for ICAB members, providing CPD events, training workshops, and credit hour tracking to maintain professional competence and meet regulatory requirements.
• CA Firm Registration and Regulation Registration, regulation, and oversight of Chartered Accountancy firms in Bangladesh, covering both proprietorship (113 firms) and partnership (145 firms) structures, totaling 258 registered CA firms that provide audit, accounting, taxation, and advisory services.
• The Bangladesh Accountant (Journal) ICAB's quarterly journal featuring technical articles, research papers, and professional insights on accounting, auditing, taxation, corporate governance, and related professional topics.
• Monthly News Bulletin
• Bangladesh Economia ICAB's publication focused on economic analysis, policy commentary, and business insights relevant to Bangladesh's economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,034 qualified Chartered Accountants serving Bangladesh's economy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2021MoU signed on 16 June 2021 for International Pathway Program (IPP). ICAB members living in Australia or New Zealand with 5 years post-qualification experience can become CA ANZ members after completing the IPP. No requirement to pass CA ANZ normal route exams for eligible ICAB members.
• National Board of Revenue (NBR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2020MoU signed on 12 November 2020 for Document Verification System (DVS). DVS enables verification of audited financial statements submitted to NBR's Income Tax Department. From December 2020, tax officials verify authenticity of audit reports through DVS. All practicing CAs must register with DVS portal and generate Document Verification Certificates.
• Local Government Division (LGD), Ministry of LGRDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2020MoU signed on 14 October 2020 between ICAB and LGD for Annual External Audit of Union Parishads across Bangladesh. ICAB facilitates participating CA firms to prepare audit plans, standard audit programs, and formats. Project under Local Governance Support Project-3 (LGSP-3) funded by World Bank.
• CPA AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2018Membership Pathways Agreement (MPA) signed on 7 November 2018 during World Congress of Accountants in Sydney. ICAB members in good standing can become CPA Australia members by passing 4 subjects: Ethics and Governance, Financial Reporting, Global Strategy and Leadership, and Strategic Management Accounting.
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2017MoU signed on 28 January 2017 between ICAB and CIPFA. ICAB members with 5+ years post-qualification public service experience are eligible for Full CIPFA membership (CPFA). Members with less experience can become CIPFA Affiliates. Members can gain CPFA status by completing just two papers: Public Sector Financial Reporting and Strategic Public Finance.
• IFRS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2014MoU allowed ICAB copyright license to publish IFRS, IAS, and IFRS for SMEs standards in print and online in Bangladesh until June 2020. ICAB signed agreement with IASB for adoption and publication of ISA and relevant international standards. ICAB moved towards IFRS instead of BFRS from 1 January 2018.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2009MoU signed on 26 October 2009 between ICAB and ICAEW, renewed in 2014, 2017, and 2020. Under this partnership, ICAB members with at least 5 years full membership may be eligible to join ICAEW through Pathways to Membership. Members can join ICAEW by passing three ACA examinations and ethics module. The MoU enables ICAB members to gain audit rights in the UK.
• University of Dhaka - Department of Accounting & Information SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 30 January 2017 (renewed 23 November 2017) for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). BBA graduates from DU (Session 2011-2012 onwards) receive exemptions in 5 subjects: Accounting, Business & Finance, Management Information, Business & Commercial Law, and Information Technology.
• Jagannath University - Department of Accounting & Information SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 25 January 2017 (addendum 13 June 2024) for CPL. BBA graduates (Session 2021-2022 onwards) receive exemptions in 4 subjects: Accounting, Business & Finance, Management Information, and Business & Commercial Law.
• Jahangirnagar University - Department of Accounting & Information SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 26 November 2017 for CPL. BBA graduates (Session 2010-2011 onwards) receive exemptions in 2 subjects: Accounting and Business & Finance.
• University of Chittagong - Department of AccountingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 1 December 2017 for CPL. BBA graduates (Session 2011-2012 onwards) receive exemptions in 2 subjects: Accounting and Information Technology.
• BRAC University - BRAC Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 23 December 2018 for CPL. BBA graduates (2015 onwards) receive exemptions in 3 subjects: Accounting, Management Information, and Information Technology.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAB is a founding member of IFAC. IFAC has 175 member organizations worldwide representing over 3 million accountants. ICAB participates in global standard-setting and professional development initiatives through IFAC.
• South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFA was formed in 1984 to serve the accountancy profession in South Asian Region. SAFA represents over 375,000 accountants from national CA institutions of Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. ICAB is a member of SAFA.
• Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPA is a regional organization representing 33 professional accounting organizations in Asia and Pacific region. Recognized by IFAC as regional organization. ICAB is a member and active partner of CAPA.
• Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAW brings together members of leading institutes creating a community of hundreds of thousands of Chartered Accountants in more than 190 countries. ICAB is an associate member of CAW.
• Financial Reporting Council (FRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed in September 2025 between ICAB and FRC to strengthen audit through DVS (Document Verification System). This move enhances transparency and accountability in financial reporting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW): The UK chartered accountancy body with which ICAB has its deepest partnership (MoU since 2009). ICAB's curriculum is fully adapted from ICAEW, making it the most direct institutional and curriculum peer.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI): National chartered accountancy regulator in India. Both bodies operate as statutory regulators under government order, administer ICAEW-aligned curricula, and are members of SAFA — the South Asian sister body to ICAB.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP): Pakistan's national chartered accountancy body, co-member of SAFA with ICAB. Operates an analogous regulatory, examination, and CPD framework for the profession in a neighboring economy.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka's national chartered accountancy regulator and a fellow SAFA member. Comparable in size, regulatory structure, and IFRS-adoption journey to ICAB.

Broad incumbents

• CPA Australia: Major international accounting body with which ICAB holds a Membership Pathways Agreement (2018). A larger, global incumbent offering alternative credentials that may compete for Bangladesh talent.
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA): UK-based public-sector finance and accountancy body with an MoU with ICAB (2017). Comparable in offering professional membership and pathways, particularly relevant given ICAB's Union Parishad audit mandate with LGD.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): The US national CPA body. While not directly operating in Bangladesh, it sets the US CPA credential that competes globally with chartered accountant qualifications for aspiring professionals.

Others

• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ): Regional Australian/NZ chartered body with which ICAB has an International Pathway Program (2021). A larger peer providing credentialing pathways for ICAB members in Australia and New Zealand.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC): Global umbrella body of which ICAB is a founding member. IFAC is the standards-setting and advocacy organization for the accountancy profession, representing 175 institutes worldwide.

Emerging players

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): Global accountancy body offering an alternative professional qualification that competes for the same Bangladesh talent pipeline. A growing presence in South Asia that could pressure ICAB's dominance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRI2aiAKwB4YsMaJtMM60gQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CA.Bangladesh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-institute-of-chartered-accountants-of-bangladesh

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh