Look before you leap

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the small investors not to get tempted by others while investing in the capital market but take their own decisions after knowing everything about a company.

"You've to take steps after having a clear idea about everything and don't take any decision after getting influenced by anyone else," she said.

The prime minister said this while speaking at a programme marking the celebrations of the silver jubilee of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

She also urged the small investors not to get motivated by profit lure.

"You've to take your steps with a sense of proportion...no one will be affected if one is guided by this sense."

Sheikh Hasina said whenever investors get affected with their own decisions, they blame the government though the government has little to do with it.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Financial Institutions Division Secretary Md Asadul Islam and BSEC chairman M Khairul Hossain also spoke at the programme.

The prime minister asked the BSEC to continue its role of 'regulator and assistant' in flourishing the capital market to bring more dynamism into it.

In this connection, she said the government will continue its all-out cooperation in the future for the development of the market.

"The capital market will be the dependable source for long-term financing to build Bangladesh as a developed country," she said.

Terming the capital market as one of the pillars of the financial sector, the prime minister said the government has continued its support for flourishing it. "As a result, the capital market is now stable."

She briefly described various steps taken by her government to create a stable, transparent and accountable capital market that put the market into category A.

Regarding the recent inclusion of Chinese consortium as a strategic partner of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, she said this will improve the depth of the country's share market and benefit investors, stakeholders and others.

Sheikh Hasina asked the BSEC and other capital market-related authorities to play their due role in making the economy more peaceful, increasing the contributions of the capital market for financing mega projects and ensuring the safety of investors.

She also mentioned about the development of the bond market, introducing new diversified products and introduction of small-cap board to finance venture capital.