Takaful is the Islamic version of insurance, and the size of global takaful industry is about USD$51 billion in 2019. Limited studies have been conducted on the development of takaful sector in Bangladesh and Indonesia using a comparative approach. As such, this review aims at investigating the challenges facing the development of takaful industry in these two countries. Primary sources such as laws and regulations, and the secondary sources such as scholarly articles and books on the subject matter were reviewed to derive conclusions. This review concludes that efficiency of takaful in both countries depend on some common factors, such as having a proper and sophisticated regulatory framework for takaful with the development of required talent pool while focusing on creating awareness and education to ensure that not only the general public have the required takaful literacy; but even the existing and potential customers have the basic knowledge about takaful. Further, it is also found in this review that in order to further develop the takaful industry in both countries, it is imperative to use innovation and technology to promote takaful parallel to the conventional insurance by creating a level playing field. This review also identifies some specific issues in both countries and have suggested recommendations accordingly. It is anticipated that the outcome of this review will assist policy makers and other stakeholders to understand the inhibitions facing the development of takaful industry in these two jurisdictions with hope that these challenges can be eliminated for the sustainable development of takaful sector.

External Shari'ah Audit (ESA) is a control mechanism meant for formulating an objective view by an independent Shari'ah audit team about the obligation of Islamic banks' (IBs) management, personnel and other divisions towards Shari'ah compliance. This study principally aims to examine the relevancy of ESA and review committee in enhancing the level of Shari'ah compliance quality and accountability of IBs in Bangladesh. The study examines data from 17 respondents obtained via semistructured interviews and secondary sources in library. This study establishes that Shari'ah officers of IBs in Bangladesh are unable to perform audit functions properly which indicates the limitations of current Shari'ah audit functions. The study discovers the need for an independent ESA for proper auditing of IBs' operations in Bangladesh with a view to Shari'ah compliance. Thus, an ESA and review committee is imperative to enhance the quality of Shari'ah compliance and ensure accountability of all divisions within IBs. This audit is to be provided either by Bangladesh Bank (BB), the central bank of the country or a third party such as Islamic chartered accountants' firms or Shari'ah audit firms. The study would contribute to existing literature on the importance of ESA and its conditions in Bangladesh. The study also provides some instructions for global Islamic banking practice on the issues examined. The study contributes to agency, stakeholder and legitimacy theory via highlighting the inability of Shari'ah auditors to perform their function independently and efficiently.

Microfinance has continued to receive positive consideration as a powerful and prospective tool needed in combating poverty and promoting financial inclusion among the poor and lower-income groups. It refers to the provision of financial services to poor and low-income people whose low economic standing excludes them from formal financial systems (IRTI, 2007). Microfinance institutions (MFIs) do enable the poor to gain access to financial services such as micro-credit, venture capital, micro-savings, micro-insurance, and money transfers on a micro level which enhances the involvement of those considered unbankable but with the acute need of financial assistance. Extending financial services to the poor not only enhances their household income and economic security, but also enables them to acquire assets and decrease their vulnerability thereby accelerating the demand for other goods and services in terms of health and education, thus leading to socio-economic development.

Green sukuk (GS) is a recent innovation that has the potential to serve humankind in sustainable development. However, its potential can only be achieved if the proceeds of GS are used for the priority areas needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find out, using selected GS issued to determine whether the proceeds of GS are actually given to the needed areas. This is qualitative research utilizing case studies where the "priorities given" areas are observed through information collected from the library that consists of primary and secondary sources, such as statutes, books, articles and internet sources, while "priorities needed to issue GS" areas are determined through information collected from Al-Quran and hadiths to derive conclusions. The outcome of this study reveals some untouched areas that needed immediate attention where GS can be implemented. This study recommends implementing GS for the plant, agriculture, forests, road, water, animal and others. One example in this regard is to create "forest sukuk," which is a tool for financing forest preservation.

Sukuk restructuring primarily aims at offering a debtor more latitude, in form and time, to settle his obligations. To meet Shari'ah requirements of transferring assets to Sukuk holders in asset-based Sukuk, the originator usually transfers the beneficial ownership to the issuer special purpose vehicles (SPV). However, in asset-backed Sukuk, the originator sells the underlying asset to an SPV and Sukuk holders do not have recourse to the originator in the event of defaults. Among some key unresolved Shari'ah issues in this regard is whether a change of contract necessitates entering a new contract. Other related issues that conflict with the tenets of Shari'ah are: (1) Sukuk structuring on tangible assets and debts; (2) receiving the full title by the Sukuk holders to the underlying assets in the event of default in case of securities that are publicized as asset backed; (3) Sukuk's similarity with interest bearing conventional bonds: (a) capital guarantee by the originator or third party, (b) the originators, promise to repurchase Sukuk at face value upon their redemption, and (c) providing internal and external credit enhancement. The Shari'ah-compliance of the above-mentioned clauses and structures of Sukuk remain debated among the Shari'ah scholars. Based on some specific cases, this study examines the Shari'ah viewpoint on sukuk restructuring and potential solutions to these unresolved Shari'ah issues in light of the past and recent declaration of some Sukuk defaults as non-Shari'ah complaints. Undoubtedly, resolution of these and other unresolved issues pertaining to Sukuk defaults can help strengthen the confidence of investors in Islamic capital market structures.

Shari'ah Secretariat plays a significant role in assisting Shari'ah Supervisory Boards (SSBs) in their role in achieving Shari'ah compliance in Islamic banks (IBs). The key objective of the study is to develop a demographic framework of the Shari'ah Secretariat for the IBs in Bangladesh. The study applied qualitative case study research. The data have been collected from 17 respondents through semi-structured interviews from IBs and professional experts in Bangladesh. This study proposes a full-time Shari'ah Secretariat and several departments for further enhancement of the Shari'ah functions in IBs in Bangladesh. The framework proposed in this study covers the formation, functions, composition, qualification, reporting line, independence, remuneration and terms of appointment of the Shari'ah Secretariat to set a uniform benchmark for all IBs in Bangladesh. It is anticipated that the outcomes of this research will assist to further strengthen the Shari'ah governance of IBs in Bangladesh. This research contributed to the national and global regulatory authorities and IBs by proposing a Shari'ah Secretariat framework for the smooth functioning of the IBs in Bangladesh. The framework proposed in this study covers the formation, functions, composition, qualification, reporting line, independence, remuneration and terms of appointment of Shari'ah Secretariat.

The study explores the existing Shariah audit practice of Islamic banks (IBs) in Bangladesh aiming at providing suggestions for improvements on the detected shortfalls in the relevant areas. This research applied a qualitative method, and data were collected through conducting semi-structured interviews in Bangladesh. A total of 17 interviews were conducted for accomplishing the research objectives. The study finds that there is no comprehensive Shariah audit manual in the current operation for IBs in Bangladesh, and as such, the requirements of their Shariah compliance remain a big question. Although the Shariah audit is conducted within IBs, and the Shariah audit officers or Shariah officers inspect necessary documents while conducting the Shariah audit, they only cover 10-20% of total investments and transactions. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the Shariah auditing tasks should broadly cover at least 80% of the investment portfolios, documents and financial contracts and activities. The findings of this research are expected to significantly contribute to the regulatory authorities concerned in Bangladesh and beyond, which include the suggestions that IBs can adopt to strengthen their Shariah governance system. The study also pinpoints that in the current system, Shariah auditors' roles are somehow limited in examining and checking the investment sides with a minimal portion (10-20%), for which they are unable to perform their responsibilities in a befitting manner to provide assurance services and overall Shariah compliance of IBs activities. This study explores the current Shariah audit systems and provides recommendations to improve the existing systems which will be beneficial for Islamic banks of Bangladesh.

This study explores the practical application of the Shariah screening process and how it could be enhanced by converging the same with the ethical screening of stocks. This study adopts a qualitative research methodology by combining the qualitative descriptive approach and content analysis. The findings of this research suggest that there is scope to converge ethical screening of stocks with Shariah Screening as the lex loci applicable to Shariah screening is derived from Shariah, which considers ethics as part of determining its rules. The data from this study reveal several practical applications, the ultimate goal of which is to help the policymakers and stakeholders understand the relevance of the Shariah screening of stocks and get a streamlined screening process, paving the way to enhance the same using ethical screening criteria to develop its function to become much more relevant irrespective of the denomination of faiths. This is original research, which is expected to contribute to understanding the extent to which Shariah screening can be enhanced by integrating the ethical stock screening dimension to it.