The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is going to observe "World Investor Week-2018" from Sunday, to create awareness among stock investors.
The week will be observed in accordance with a declaration of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), a global cooperative of securities regulatory bodies.
Finance minister AMA Muhith will inaugurate the investor week on October 7 at the capital's Krishibid Institute, Bangladesh, in Farmgate.
BSEC Executive Director M Saifur Rahman said at an office press conference yesterday said: “Increasingly, the safety of investors is being expanded through the objective of education activities and the expansion of investment education. We are celebrating 'World Investor Week-2018’ to create awareness and achieve the target of educating investors.”
Saifur Rahman said: “The regulator has been working to create awareness among investors to reduce their investment risks.”
Presided over by BSEC Chairman, M Khairul Hossain, the State Minister for Finance and Planning, MA Mannan, is expected as special guest at the inaugural ceremony.
To mark the occasion, BSEC has chalked out a seven-day program of cultural events, discussions, reunions, and seminars.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will also arrange different programs in Dhaka and Chittagong to mark the week.
BSEC Executive Director Farhad Ahmed said: "The program will provide some basic awareness-based knowledge of capital market investment so that they [investors] can make financial decisions independently."
“Average ratio of small investors in our capital market is quite high compared to the capital markets of other countries,” he said.
When asked about the role of the Commission in combating the ongoing manipulation in the capital market, Farhad said the practice largely takes place in the shares of small cap companies.
“As long as the market capitalization of the market remains small, it will be difficult to combat the manipulation,” he said.
However, Farhad said that even with its limited manpower, the commission has been doing a good job to improve fairness and establish transparency in the market through reforms and regulatory actions.
“The regulator cracks down on irregularities and resolutely deals with any violations by listed companies pertaining to any malpractices, when required,” he said.
“The BSEC also regularly instructs listed companies to improve their corporate governance to create an open and transparent market environment, to benefit and protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors.”
The stock exchanges, merchant banks, and asset management companies are expected to provide necessary support in observing the week.
In 2017, the BSEC for the first time observed World Investor Week on a broader scale.
