The country's capital market is witnessing a surge in the number of female investors, increasing their contributions to the national economy, according to official statistics, reports UNB.
Modern technology has made their journeys in the share market easier, helping many keep the track of the market even by sitting at home, through their computers or smart phones.
Sources at the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) said the total number of Beneficiary Owners (BO) accounts in the market was 2,690,821, as of October 16 last.
"Among them, the number of female investors is approximately 712,941, while 1,966,342 accounts belong to their male counterparts," said a source at the CDBL.
A recent study shows that 78 per cent of the female investors are below the age of 40 while more than 95 per cent are below 50.
Though the female investors are increasing, the percentage of active female traders will be four or five per cent, said Managing Director of Modern Securities Ltd. Khugesta Nur-E- Naharin, mentioning that the number of female BO account holders is high only in paper.
"Women will have to come forward to show their visibility in the market and it's all about mindset," she said, adding that they will have to be active from the first step.
Khugesta said the government, as well as Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges, have taken many initiatives like training, separate booth for female traders and more, eliminating any chance of creating any gender discrimination in the share market. "It's all about business and understanding."
Deputy General Manager (PR and Publication) of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Md Shafiqur Rahman said the DSE launched a mobile application on March 9 last year through which investors now can trade on their mobile phones.
The app has added an extra benefit for the female share traders, of being able to run their business from home, avoiding the hassles of coming to the spot, he added.
He said the app also helps attract potential investors in the market as it is easy to operate and is slowly becoming popular among the traders.
"At the rate, women have participated in the mainstream economy, they didn't join the capital market at the same pace," he said, mentioning that the main reason is lack of awareness about the capital market.
He also said the share market will be benefited if more and more educated people participate in the business.
Some 1000 limited companies and many multinational companies are still out of this market, he added. "If they join the capital market, the market situation will be positive."
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