Corporate Governance Practices and Performance in theFinancial Sector of Bangladesh: An Analysis betweenBanks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research study focuses on correlation between corporate governance practices and financial performance of banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in Bangladesh between 2014 and 2024. The paper applies the pooled OLS regression analysis on a total of 407 firm-years of 37 institutions (27 banks and 10 NBFIs) to analyze the impact of governance on the performance (ROA) based on accounting and (Tobin Q) based on the market. The results show that the size of the board and female diversity positively contribute to ROA, whereas independent directors have a negative impact on performance. The independence of audit committee has a negative correlation with ROA and a positive correlation with Q of Tobin which indicates a trade-off between ROA and confidence of investors. The size of the firm enhances ROA and decreases its market value whereas depreciation of currency has an adverse impact on profitability. These findings imply that, instead of paying lip service to the governance mechanisms, effective implementation is the key to enhancing the performance of the institutions.
Article Details
Section

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication. Anyone may copy, distribute, remix, adapt and build upon the work, including for commercial purposes, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated. License details: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
How to Cite
References
1. Abbott, L. J., Parker, S., & Peters, G. F. (2004). Audit committee characteristics and restatements. Auditing: A journal of practice & theory, 23(1), 69-87. https://doi.org/10.2308/aud.2004.23.1.69
2. Adams, R. B., & Ferreira, D. (2009). Women in the boardroom and their impact on governance and performance. Journal of financial economics, 94(2), 291- 309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.10.007
3. Ahmed, S., Jannat, R., & Ahmed, S. U. (2017). Corporate governance practices in the banking sector of Bangladesh: do they really matter? Available at SSRN 2984104.
4. Akinwumi, A. A., Onmonya, L. O., Ugwudioha, O., & Uthman, A. B. (2026). Board Characteristics and Financial Performance Of Firms: Evidence from Nigeria. In The Seybold Report (Vol. 21, Number 04, pp. 1–22). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19588251
5. Alqatamin, R. M. (2018). Audit committee effectiveness and company performance: Evidence from Jordan. Accounting and Finance Research, 7(2), 48-60. https://doi.org/10.5430/afr.v7n2p48
6. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission. (2018). Corporate Governance Code (Notification No. BSEC/CMRRCD/2006-158/207/ Admin/80). BSEC. https://www.sec.gov.bd
7. Bhagat, S., & Bolton, B. (2008). Corporate governance and firm performance. Journal of corporate finance, 14(3), 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jcorpfin.2008.03.006
8. Carter, D. A., Simkins, B. J., & Simpson, W. G. (2003). Corporate governance, board diversity, and firm value. Financial review, 38(1), 33-53. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/1540-6288.00034
9. Chung, K. H., & Pruitt, S. W. (1994). A simple approximation of Tobin's q. financial management, 23(3), 70-74. https://doi.org/10.2307/3665623
10. Dalton, D. R., Daily, C. M., Ellstrand, A. E., & Johnson, J. L. (1998). Meta analytic reviews of board composition, leadership structure, and financial performance. Strategic management journal, 19(3), 269-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199803)19:3%3C269::AID-SMJ950%3E3.0.CO;2-K
11. Dang, C., Li, Z. F., & Yang, C. (2018). Measuring firm size in empirical corporate finance. Journal of banking & finance, 86, 159-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.09.006
12. DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American sociological review, 48(2), 147-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-3322(00) 17011-1
13. Donaldson, L., & Davis, J. H. (1991). Stewardship theory or agency theory: CEO governance and shareholder return. Australian Journal of management, 16(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/031289629101600103
14. Donaldson, T., & Preston, L. E. (1995). The stakeholder theory of the corporation: Concepts, evidence, and implications. Academy of management Review, 20(1), 65-91. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9503271992
15.Eichengreen, B., & Hausmann, R. (1999). Exchange rates and financial fragility. https://doi.org/10.3386/w7418
16. Eisenberg, T., Sundgren, S., & Wells, M. T. (1998). Larger board size and decreasing firm value in small firms. Journal of financial economics, 48(1), 35- 54. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(98)00003-8
17. Enriques, L. (2015). Related party transactions: Policy options and real-world challenges (with a critique of the European Commission proposal). European Business Organization Law Review, 16(1), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40804- 015-0001-3
18. Fama, E. F., & Jensen, M. C. (1983). Separation of ownership and control. The journal of law and Economics, 26(2), 301-325.
19. Freeman, R. E. (2010). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University press.
20. Guest, P. M. (2009). The impact of board size on firm performance: evidence from the UK. The European Journal of Finance, 15(4), 385-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/13518470802466121
21. Haniffa, R., & Hudaib, M. (2006). Corporate governance structure and performance of Malaysian listed companies. Journal of business finance & accounting, 33(7-8), 1034-1062. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5957.2006.
00594.x
22. Hasan, S. M., Hossain, S. A., Islam, R., & Hasan, M. M. (2023). Corporate governance and firms' performance: Evidence from Dhaka Stock Exchange. Indian Journal of Finance and Banking, 13(1), 28-38.
23. Hasan, S. M., Tawfiq, T. T., Hasan, M. M., & Islam, K. A. (2024). Corporate governance dynamics in financial institution performance: A panel data analysis. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 21(3), 292-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/imfi.21(3).2024.24
24. Hermalin, B., & Weisbach, M. S. (2001). Boards of directors as an endogenously determined institution: A survey of the economic literature. http://dx.doi.org/10.3386/w8161
25. Hernandez, M. (2008). Promoting stewardship behavior in organizations: A leadership model. Journal of business ethics, 80(1), 121-128. https://doi.org/
10.1007/s10551-007-9440-2
26. Islam, J., Sathye, M., & Hu, H. (2015). Examining the relationship between corporate governance and bank performance in Bangladesh. South African Journal of Business Management, 46(4), 43-52. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC180435
27. Keune, M. B., & Johnstone, K. M. (2015). Audit committee incentives and the resolution of detected misstatements. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, 34(4), 109-137. https://doi.org/10.2308/ajpt-51080
28. Khan, S. A., Rahman, M. M., & Thakur, O. A. (2025). Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector of Bangladesh: Current Practices and Future Prospects. Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting, 25(4), 314- 327. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajeba/2025/v25i41751
29. Klein, A. (2002). Audit committee, board of director characteristics, and earnings management. Journal of accounting and economics, 33(3), 375-400. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-4101(02)00059-9
30. Konrad, A. M., Kramer, V., & Erkut, S. (2008). Critical mass: The impact of three or more women on corporate boards. Organizational dynamics, 37(2), 145-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2008.02.005
31. Lipton, M., & Lorsch, J. W. (1992). A modest proposal for improved corporate
governance. The business lawyer, 48(1), 59-77. https://www.jstor.org/
stable/40687360
32. Meckling, W. H., & Jensen, M. C. (1976). Theory of the Firm. Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure, 3(4), 305-360. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/978-94-009-9257-3_8
33. Molla, M. I., Islam, M. S., & Rahaman, M. K. B. (2023). Corporate governance structure and bank performance: evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 39(3), 730-746. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEAS-05-2021-0083
34. Mollik, A. T., & Bepari, M. K. (2009). Banking System in Bangladesh: Stable or Vulnerable? -A Macroprudential Assessment. Journal of Business Administration, 34(3&), 4. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1513822
35. Muttakin, M. B., & Ullah, S. (2012). Corporate governance and bank performance: Evidence from Bangladesh. Corporate Board: Role, Duties & Composition, 8(1), 62-68.
36. Namanya, D., Fong, W. L. W., & Mugarura, J. T. (2021). Corporate governance and firm performance in developing countries: evidence from East Africa. Advanced International Journal of Banking, Accounting and
Finance, 3(7), 127-147. https://doi.org/10.35631/aijbaf.370011
37. Nguyen, T. L. A., & Vo, X. V. (2020). Does corporate governance really matter for bank efficiency? Evidence from ASEAN countries. Eurasian Economic Review, 10(4), 681-706. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40822-020-00151-4
38. Orazayeva, A., & Arslan, M. (2025). Effect of financial indicators on corporate social responsibility: Evidence from emerging economies. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 18(3), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18030110
39. Post, C., & Byron, K. (2015). Women on boards and firm financial performance: A meta-analysis. Academy of management Journal, 58(5), 1546-1571. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.0319
40. Rahman, M. A., & Islam, J. (2018). The impact of corporate governance on bank performance: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 18(8), 49-53.
41. Roy, I., Sarker, A. K., & Chowdhury, S. (2017). Corporate social responsibility practices in Bangladesh: A statistical analysis on state-owned & private commercial banks. Economics World, 5(4), 322-332. https://doi.org/10.17265/ 2328-7144/2017.04.005
42. Safari Gerayli, M., Rezaei Pitenoei, Y., & Abdollahi, A. (2021). Do audit committee characteristics improve financial reporting quality in emerging markets? Evidence from Iran. Asian Review of Accounting, 29(2), 251-267. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-10-2020-0155
43. Sarker, N., & Hossain, S. K. (2024). Corporate governance and firm value: Bangladeshi manufacturing industry perspective. PSU Research Review, 8(3), 872-897. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-04-2023-0060
44. Scott, W. R. (1987). The adolescence of institutional theory. Administrative science quarterly, 32(4), 493-511. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392880
45. Shakri, I. H., Yong, J., & Xiang, E. (2024). Corporate governance and firm performance: Evidence from political instability, political ideology, and corporate governance reforms in Pakistan. Economics & Politics, 36(3), 1633- 1663. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecpo.12303
46. Škare, M., & Hasić, T. (2016). Corporate governance, firm performance, and economic growth–theoretical analysis. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 17(1), 35-51. https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2015.1071278
47. Vafeas, N. (1999). Board meeting frequency and firm performance. Journal of financial economics, 53(1), 113-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(99) 00018-5
48. Vetchagool, W. (2025). Board age diversity and firm performance: Empirical evidence from Thailand. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 14(2), 450-467.
49. Yermack, D. (1996). Higher market valuation of companies with a small board of directors. Journal of financial economics, 40(2), 185-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(95)00844-5
50. Zainab, A. A. (2025). Audit Committee Attributes and Financial Reporting Quality: A Pre and Post Cama 2020 Empirical Analysis. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(5), 5385-5405.