What Central Depository Bangladesh Limited does

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) is the sole securities depository of Bangladesh, established in 2000 and operating as the regulated infrastructure backbone of the country's capital market. CDBL provides electronic securities custody, Beneficial Owner (BO) account management, dematerialization and rematerialization of share certificates, and settlement services for transactions executed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). The platform supports 830 ISIN-enlisted issuers, 559 licensed Depository Participants (stockbrokers and merchant bankers), and 1.67 million operable BO accounts holding 104.3 billion shares with a market value of Tk 3,197,789 million as of June 2026. CDBL is ISO 27001 certified and is integrated with the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) via its Electronic Data Reporting Platform (EDRP) for automated regulatory oversight.

The company's core technology is a centralized Central Depository System (CDS) handling BO account lifecycle, transaction processing, pledging, transfer and transmission, freeze and suspension, and off-market settlement. Supplementary digital services include an Online BO Account Opening System launched in 2021, SMS and email notification services for transaction alerts (including branded 'CDBL' masking SMS launched in 2022), an online balance inquiry portal, an e-invoice service for DPs, and a BSEC-directed mobile application for real-time investor portfolio monitoring. CDBL is also an ANNA member, enabling it to assign ISINs for Bangladesh-listed securities, and holds memberships in ACG and IFGICT for international standards alignment.

CDBL operates a B2B infrastructure business model, generating revenue primarily through transaction-based fees charged to its 559 Depository Participants for account management, dematerialization, settlement processing, and ancillary services. Pricing is documented in a downloadable PDF schedule rather than publicly displayed. Ownership is dispersed across nationalized banks, private commercial banks, foreign banks, insurance companies, the DSE, CSE, Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB), merchant banks, NBFIs, and listed companies, with paid-up capital of Tk 2 Billion and a stated employee base of 72. The company is privately held, is not listed on any exchange, and is constructing a new purpose-built headquarter building inaugurated in March 2024.

Name

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited

Legal name

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited

Website

https://cdbl.com.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) is the sole securities depository of Bangladesh, providing electronic share custody, BO account management, dematerialization, and settlement infrastructure for the country's capital market since 2000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Securities Depository & Capital Market Infrastructure

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)

akta.pro primary industry

KYC/Client Due Diligence & Participant Onboarding Controls (FSAFAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

AML/KYC, Investor Onboarding & Compliance Services (FSAAAMAE)

Keywords

• Securities depository services
• Capital market infrastructure
• BO account management
• Dematerialization services
• Securities settlement platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Depository Services Fees: CDBL generates revenue through fees charged to Depository Participants for securities depository services including account management, transaction processing, dematerialization, and settlement services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) operates the sole securities depository of Bangladesh, providing electronic custody, BO (Beneficial Owner) account management, dematerialization and rematerialization of share certificates, securities settlement, pledge management, transfer and transmission, and account freeze services. The platform serves Depository Participants (stockbrokers and merchant bankers), institutional investors, and retail investors in Bangladesh's capital market, supported by online account opening, real-time SMS/email alerts, balance inquiry, and regulatory reporting integrations.

Product overview

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) operates as a single, unified securities depository platform for Bangladesh's capital market. The company functions as the sole depository infrastructure, providing core services including BO account management, dematerialisation/rematerialisation, securities trading settlement, off-market transactions, and account freezing. The platform is supplemented by notification and inquiry modules including SMS alerts, email notifications, balance inquiry, and e-invoice services. Direct account opening and AMC price upload serve as additional specialized features within the overall depository ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online BO Account Opening System Digital platform that enables investors to open Beneficial Owner (BO) accounts through online registration without visiting a physical Depository Participant office; used by retail investors entering Bangladesh's capital market.
• Dematerialisation Service that converts physical share certificates into electronic form within the Central Depository System, eliminating physical certificate handling for investors and Depository Participants.
• Rematerialisation Service that converts electronic shares back into physical certificate form upon investor request, providing an exit path from electronic custody.
• Buying & Selling (Securities Settlement) Centralized settlement service within the depository system for buy and sell transactions executed on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).
• Off-Market Settlement Settlement service for securities transactions executed outside the regular exchange trading platform, used for private transfers and negotiated deals.
• Transfer & Transmission Service for transferring securities ownership between BO accounts and for transmitting securities to nominees upon an account holder's death.
• Pledging Service that enables investors to pledge their securities held in the CDS as collateral for loans or other financial obligations, with electronic pledge, unpledge, and confiscate workflows.
• Freeze and Suspension Service for temporarily restricting or suspending BO account activities as requested by investors or regulatory authorities, used for compliance and dispute resolution.
• Direct Account Opening Direct account opening facility allowing investors to establish BO accounts without using an intermediary Depository Participant.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CDS & Clearing Limited (CDSC) NepalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024Four-member delegation from CDSC Nepal visited CDBL on June 25, 2024 for knowledge exchange on CDS and clearing operations. CDBL organized 3-day training sessions for the delegates on operational activities.
• Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Delegation from SEBON visited CDBL on January 23, 2024 to exchange views and understand operational activities of the Bangladesh securities depository system.
• ACG (Associates of Certified Gazettes)minorOthersCDBL is a member of ACG, an international organization for standards and business information providers. Membership provides networking and knowledge sharing with global counterparts in the financial information industry.
• ANNA (Association of National Numbering Agencies)coreOthersCDBL is a member of ANNA, the global member-run organization that manages the ISO 6166 standard for International Securities Identification Numbers (ISIN). ANNA membership enables CDBL to assign and manage ISINs for securities listed on Bangladesh exchanges.
• IFGICT (International Federation of Global Information and Communication Technology)minorOthersCDBL is a member of IFGICT, an international federation promoting ICT standards and best practices in the global technology community.
• Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDBL operates under BSEC regulation as Bangladesh's sole securities depository. The partnership involves continuous collaboration on regulatory frameworks, digital oversight systems, and investor protection initiatives. CDBL developed systems at BSEC's directive including the EDRP (Electronic Data Reporting Platform) and mobile application for investor monitoring.
• Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited (DSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a shareholder and key market infrastructure partner, DSE collaborates with CDBL on securities settlement and market operations. Both entities are owned by similar consortiums of banks, financial institutions, and listed companies.
• Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited (CSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSE collaborates with CDBL on securities settlement and market operations as Bangladesh's secondary stock exchange. Both entities operate within the same regulatory framework established by BSEC.
• Central Counterparty BD. Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationCCP Bangladesh provides central clearing services for securities transactions. Integration with CDBL ensures efficient post-trade processing including settlement and custody management across the clearing and depository chain.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Clearstream: Post-trade services provider (CSD and ICSD) owned by Deutsche Börse. Provides analogous settlement, custody, and asset servicing functions to CDBL, but in international capital markets with broader product scope.
• Euroclear: International central securities depository serving European and cross-border securities settlement. Comparable role as ICSD/CSD with similar BO/participant structure, but at global scale and complexity well beyond CDBL.
• DTCC (Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation): US-based post-trade market infrastructure providing custody, clearing, and settlement services. Comparable in core depository and clearinghouse role, but vastly larger scale and broader product set than CDBL.

Regional players

• Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company (HKSCC): Subsidiary of HKEX providing clearing and depository services for Hong Kong securities markets. Comparable in CSD role and DP/participant structure to CDBL, with deeper international investor connectivity.
• Central Depository of Sri Lanka (CDS): Sri Lanka's central securities depository providing demat, settlement, and CDS account services. Comparable in scale and product set to CDBL, and a useful benchmark for South Asian CSD operating models.
• Central Depository Company of Pakistan (CDC): Pakistan's central securities depository and clearing operator, part of the national exchange infrastructure. Directly comparable CSD operating model with similar DP ecosystem and regulatory alignment.
• Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL): Second Indian securities depository, also offering demat and settlement services. Directly comparable product/market overlap to CDBL, with similar BO/demat model and DP-driven distribution.
• National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), India: Largest securities depository in India serving demat accounts and settlement for NSE/BSE. Comparable in core CSD functionality, electronic dematerialization, and DP network, though operating in a much larger and more developed market.

Others

• BSE StAR MF / Indian clearing utilities: BSE's mutual fund transaction platform and adjacent Indian post-trade infrastructure. Relevant as adjacent market infrastructure operating in similar BO/settlement workflows but focused on mutual fund transactions rather than equities depository.

Direct peers

• CDSC Nepal (CDS & Clearing Limited): Central Depository and Clearing operator for Nepal's securities market. Directly comparable to CDBL as a South Asian CSD with analogous BO account structure, DP network, and regulatory mandate. CDBL has hosted knowledge-exchange delegations from CDSC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Depository Bangladesh Limited