Capital market fair fails to satiate investors' appetite

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FE Report
The ongoing capital market fair has received a lukewarm response from market players. It has, however, attracted a large number of curious visitors.
Only 12 out of around 250 brokerage houses and institutions are participating in the three-day fair, which will conclude today (Saturday) in the city.
Most of the visitors are showing interest to know about the good securities while the participants are trying to make them clients offering some special packages.
The visitors, mostly investors, have expressed disappointment for not holding seminars and awareness programme at the fair premises.
However, some participants are giving counselling about the prospect in share market investment.
Dhaka Sheraton Hotel organised the three-day event titled 'Share Bazaar Mela' at its Winter Garden for the first time aiming to provide people elementary knowledge about the share market.
Visitor Rassel, student of a private university, said, "I have come here to know how to pick up the good stocks. What issues will be better for investment right at this moment."
Zahirul Islam, chairman of the Prilink Securities Limited, said: "Presence of the visitors is higher compared to the number of the participants in the fair."
"Generally, the visitors prefer to come in the fair after evening hour when the premises are abuzz," he added.
Sharif MA Rahman, chief operating officer of the AM Securities and Financial Services Limited, said: "My observation is that the number of participants is low as they might have failed to understand the significance of the fair, the first time in the country."
The fair has lost its importance to the visitors as there are no arrangements of seminars and awareness programme in the premises of the fair," he said.
"We had expected participation of at least 20 brokerage houses. But we are satisfied about the presence of the visitors," AF Mainuddin Ahmad, event coordinator.
"Perhaps, the participants could not understand the importance of the fair, which has been arranged for the first time in Bangladesh," said Ahmad, who is also the convention services manager of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.
The participants include IDLC Finance Ltd, Trust Bank, Sharp Securities Ltd, Prilink Securities Ltd, Islami Bank Securities Ltd, AM Securities and Financial Services, Green Delta Financial Service Ltd, Akij Securities Ltd, Global Securities Ltd and HAC Securities.