The Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB) has awarded 37 companies for their outstanding corporate governance practices as well as transparency and accountability in overall management.

The 9th ICSB National Award for Corporate Governance Excellence-2021 was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka yesterday.

Salman Fazlur Rahman, the prime minister's adviser on private industry and investment, handed over trophies and certificates under 12 categories to the winning companies.

Eastern Bank Limited won the gold award in the general banking sector while Mercantile Bank secured silver and Brac Bank bronze. Meanwhile, Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited received the gold award in the Islamic banking category.

DBH Finance PLC scooped the top award in the non-bank financial institutions category while IDLC Finance bagged silver and Bangladesh Finance Limited got the bronze.

In the general insurance category, the gold medal went to Green Delta Insurance Company while it was Pragati Life Insurance Company Limited in the life insurance category.

Of the other gold winners, Beximco Pharmaceuticals took the top prize in the pharmaceuticals and chemical category while Paramount Textile PLC won it in the textile and garment company category.

Unilever Consumer Care won gold in the food and allied company category and Walton Hi-Tech Industries got it in the engineering category.

In the manufacturing category, RAK Ceramics (Bangladesh) and Marico Bangladesh claimed top spot while United Power Generation and Distribution Company beat out the competition in the fuel and power company category.

Lastly, Eastern Housing Limited won the highest honour in the service company category.

Speaking as the chief guest, Rahman said the government has created conducive environment for the private sector.

"As the government is empowering the private sector, they should play a responsible role in the country's economy," he added.

Planning Minister MA Mannan said almost 90 per cent of the country's economy is controlled by the private sector.

"So, the government should encourage the private sector more," he added.

Speaking as special guest, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary of the commerce ministry, said private companies are the lifeblood of the economy.

ICSB president Mohammad Asad Ullah said good governance in the corporate sector is the need of the hour.