Investors should make investments based on financial literacy

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday said necessary reforms have been made to avert situation like 1996 and 2011 stock market debacles.

The finance minister said this while inaugurating World Investor Week 2017 being observed during October 2-8 across the country under the leadership of the securities regulator.

"Those stock market debacles posed a blow and later the capital market witnessed a stable situation in 2013 following reforms in the regulatory body and also rules and regulations," Muhith said.

He said the government is prioritising investments and established relevant frameworks in the country.

"But the investors always should make investments based on financial literacy for ensuring safety of their investments. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences," said Muhith, also the chief guest of the ceremony.

In his speech the senior secretary of the bank and financial institutions division Md. Eunusur Rahman said the financial literacy is also a bread and butter issue for educated persons along with general investors.

"A course on financial literacy should be included into the text books of the secondary and higher secondary level in a bid to spread awareness regarding risks of investments," said Mr. Eunusur Rahman who attended the programme as special guest.

Echoing Eunusur Rahman, the chairman of the securities regulator Professor M Khairul Hossain urged the finance minister to take initiative for inclusion of financial literacy course into the text book.

"Financial literacy can reduce risk of investments. We are conducting financial literacy programme across the country considering the interest of general investors," Professor Khairul said further adding that investors' confidence on the capital market restored following the regulatory reforms.

Mohammad Saifur Rahman, an executive director of the securities regulator, said they are conducting financial literacy programme not to make the capital market vibrant.

"Our main objective is to make the investors literate for the sake of their own investments," Rahman said.

The securities regulator made Shakib Al Hasan, the top cricketer of the country brand ambassador of the financial literacy programme.

Shakib Al Hasan also spoke at the inauguration ceremony of the World Investor Week 2017 attended by different top officials of the securities regulator, both the stock exchanges, merchant banks and asset management companies.

To observe the week, the BSEC has arranged different meetings, seminars, workshops and investors' education fair targeting general investors, students of universities, stakeholders of the capital market and different professional bodies.

Dr. Mashiur Rahman, the economic affairs adviser to the Prime Minister, and MA Mannan MP, the state minister for planning and finance ministry are scheduled to attend two separate next programmes as chief guests.

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