Who We Are

Maria Howlader FCA is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). She is the Founder & Managing Partner of Howlader Maria & Co., Chartered Accountants (Member Firm of KRESTON Global) which is the 1st Female Founded CA Firm in Bangladesh. Before founding her professional practice and consultancy work, she was the partner in A. Qasem & Co., Chartered Accountants, which was a member firm of Ernst & Young (EY) and practiced there for almost 11 years. Earlier she worked for Hoda Vasi Chowdhury & Co., Chartered Accountants, which was an Independent Correspondent firm of Delloite. Maria Howlader’s more than 15 years in Bangladesh Accounting & Audit practice have been devoted to looking after start-up businesses, foreign companies, and local conglomerate, whether as auditor, accountant, tax consultant or adviser on corporate transactions. She is passionate about the role of the accountant in finding     solutions to problems, and has special expertise in corporate structures, international groups and assisting overseas businesses setting up in Bangladesh. Her experience ranges across many industries including manufacturing, construction, IT, Government projects, retail, travel, media, and marketing, as well as providing a trusted adviser approach to many private clients and SME Companies. She Extensively works as Foreign Direct Investment Advisors and trusted advisor for Start up and SMEs and Women entrepreneurs. She has been passionate and instrumental in supporting women entrepreneurs and empowering women in leadership. Maria Howlader is the first Female Director to the Board of Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JBCCI). She has joined with the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as an entourage to her significant visit to Japan in May 2023. Maria Howlader has been serving as one of the Council Members of ICAB for consecutive 4 years from 2019.  She served ICAB as a first female Vice president in the year 2021. She was the Chairperson of Women Leadership Committee in South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) for year 2021, 2022. She has been extensively working for strengthening the audit practice of Bangladesh. She was a Faculty of ICAB and chairman and member of many important committees of ICAB. She is a frequent speaker on different forums in connection with taxation, doing business in Bangladesh company law, Tax law etc.