ID cards for stock investors proposed
Friday, 20 May 2011
FE Report
The Ministry of Home has proposed introducing ID cards for the stock market investors to identify the detail of the people, taking part in the agitation and vandalism during the recent capital market slump and threatened public security. It also suggested installation of CCTV (close-circuit television) cameras on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) premises and its adjacent areas at Motijheel to strengthen security of the city's busiest commercial hub. The proposals came at a meeting between the officials of the home ministry and the DSE Thursday. "Earlier, rioting on the streets in front of the DSE building by investors halted vehicular movements at Motijheel for several days. So, the government thinks ID cards and CCTVs will help track the offenders, and protect public properties from vandalism," meeting sources said. After the meeting, Home Minister Shahara Khatun said five recommendations were made during the talks with the bourse officials on law and order situation. The other proposals included formation of a crisis management team and co-ordination committee, and pressing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to ensure gridlock-free movement of vehicles from Shapla Square. Home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said they recommended increasing the number of law-enforcers at the DSE from the current 20. When asked about issuance of the proposed ID cards, DSE chairman Shakil Rizvi told reporters that they would take a decision through discussion with the board of directors. Senior vice president of the DSE Ahsanul Islam Titu said they agreed in principle to install CCTVs on the premises of the DSE and its adjacent areas. "We have not taken any decision regarding issuance of ID cards to all the investors. However, we will ensure the identity of the people who frequently visit the DSE and its adjacent buildings," he added. State minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, SEC chairman Khairul Hossain, and high officials of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were also present at the meeting. Over three million people, mostly small-scale individual investors, are estimated to have lost their money during the latest stock market debacle. Police charged batons and lobbed tear-gas shells to disperse violent protestors on several occasions in December-January.
The Ministry of Home has proposed introducing ID cards for the stock market investors to identify the detail of the people, taking part in the agitation and vandalism during the recent capital market slump and threatened public security. It also suggested installation of CCTV (close-circuit television) cameras on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) premises and its adjacent areas at Motijheel to strengthen security of the city's busiest commercial hub. The proposals came at a meeting between the officials of the home ministry and the DSE Thursday. "Earlier, rioting on the streets in front of the DSE building by investors halted vehicular movements at Motijheel for several days. So, the government thinks ID cards and CCTVs will help track the offenders, and protect public properties from vandalism," meeting sources said. After the meeting, Home Minister Shahara Khatun said five recommendations were made during the talks with the bourse officials on law and order situation. The other proposals included formation of a crisis management team and co-ordination committee, and pressing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to ensure gridlock-free movement of vehicles from Shapla Square. Home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said they recommended increasing the number of law-enforcers at the DSE from the current 20. When asked about issuance of the proposed ID cards, DSE chairman Shakil Rizvi told reporters that they would take a decision through discussion with the board of directors. Senior vice president of the DSE Ahsanul Islam Titu said they agreed in principle to install CCTVs on the premises of the DSE and its adjacent areas. "We have not taken any decision regarding issuance of ID cards to all the investors. However, we will ensure the identity of the people who frequently visit the DSE and its adjacent buildings," he added. State minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, SEC chairman Khairul Hossain, and high officials of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were also present at the meeting. Over three million people, mostly small-scale individual investors, are estimated to have lost their money during the latest stock market debacle. Police charged batons and lobbed tear-gas shells to disperse violent protestors on several occasions in December-January.