Press Release

SAJIDA Foundation, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and BRAC EPL Investments partner to launch Bangladesh’s First Domestic Orange Bond

Dhaka, Bangladesh | February 15, 2026

SAJIDA Foundation has announced its plan to issue Bangladesh’s first domestic Orange Bond, a landmark BDT 2 billion (approximately USD 16.4 million) transaction aimed at mobilizing gender-intentional and inclusive capital at scale. The landmark issuance marks a major milestone in Bangladesh’s capital market evolution, translating decades of development impact and groundwork into a market-based instrument aligned with international best practices.

The Foundation is partnering with Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a global pioneer in sustainable finance and impact investing, and BRAC EPL Investments Limited (BEIL), one of Bangladesh’s leading investment banks with deep capital market expertise to establish a credible, scalable framework for gender-smart and climate-aligned financing within Bangladesh’s domestic debt markets.

The Orange Bond aims to attract a diversified pool of local and international investors, channeling proceeds to support women-focused and inclusive development enterprises across SAJIDA Foundation’s core sectors, including livelihoods, health, housing, and financial inclusion.

As part of the transaction pathway, IIX will support SAJIDA Foundation through Orange Bond Framework advisory and an independent external review aligned with the Orange Bond Principles™, alongside post-issuance annual enterprise impact assessments. BEIL will bring its capital market expertise to strengthen issuer readiness, thematic bond structuring considerations, and investor engagement, bridging global standards with Bangladesh’s local market context.

“This Orange Bond represents a defining moment for SAJIDA Foundation and for Bangladesh’s capital markets,” said Zahida Fizza Kabir, CEO at SAJIDA Foundation. “By entering the domestic bond market with a gender-intentional instrument, we are demonstrating how development institutions can responsibly mobilize capital while remaining accountable to the communities we serve.”

Syed Rashed Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of BRAC EPL Investments Limited, said, “Orange Bonds present a timely opportunity to unlock capital for SMEs and women-led enterprises in Bangladesh. This collaboration allows us to bring international best practices in impact finance into the domestic market, supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

Professor Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX, added, "IIX is pleased to partner with SAJIDA Foundation in their plans to issue Bangladesh's first Orange Bond. This landmark issuance by a Foundation that is playing a leadership role in inclusive finance will set a new standard for inclusive financial systems and transparency in the country, helping deepen the capital markets to work for the 99%. As a first-of-its-kind issuance, the Orange Bond will create a critical precedent for the financial ecosystem to accelerating Bangladesh's journey toward an inclusive and sustainable economy. "

Guided by the Orange Bond Principles™ and aligned with international sustainability standards, including the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, and Sustainability Bond Guidelines, the SAJIDA Orange Bond will serve as an important reference transaction for Bangladesh’s emerging thematic bond market.

As a first-mover issuance, the bond positions SAJIDA Foundation as a benchmark issuer and contributes to broader efforts to support Bangladesh’s transition toward a more inclusive, resilient, and market-driven development finance ecosystem.

About SAJIDA Foundation

SAJIDA Foundation is a national development organization in Bangladesh with decades of experience across microfinance, health, housing, livelihoods, and social enterprise. SAJIDA works to improve the quality of life for underserved communities, particularly women, through integrated, scalable, and sustainable development solutions.

About Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)

Since 2009, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has been a pioneer in the global impact investing movement, reshaping finance for sustainable development with a focus on gender equality and climate action through capital mobilization and data-driven solutions. From establishing the Impact Partners™ platform and creating the Women’s Livelihood Bond™ Series, to launching the Impact Institute™ and Research & Advisory, IIX operates across 60 countries, having mobilized nearly US$500 million in private capital, positively impacted over 185 million lives, avoided more than 1.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions, and collected over 90,000 data points on MSMEs globally.

About BRAC EPL Investments Limited (BEIL)

BRAC EPL Investments Limited is a leading investment bank in Bangladesh with over two decades of experience in capital markets. BEIL is recognized for introducing pioneering investment banking solutions and supporting market development through innovation, advisory, and investor engagement.