Twenty-one life insurance companies in Bangladesh have not complied with the regulatory requirement to invest 30% of their assets in government securities, as per the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA). The companies, including prominent names like Akij Takaful, Alpha Islami, and Popular Life, preferred investments in land, properties, and the stock market over treasury bills and bonds.
IDRA’s investigation revealed long-term non-compliance, posing risks to both the companies and policyholders. The shortfall in government securities investment ranged widely, with some companies investing less than 5%. Reasons cited for non-compliance include historical financial difficulties and prioritizing higher returns from alternative investments. However, these firms have been given a one to two-month deadline to comply with the rules, facing fines for their shortfall.