Khosru urges govt to boost trust thru stock market funding

Former Commerce Minister and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has called on the government to channel funding for public projects through the country’s capital market to rebuild investor trust and drive sustainable growth.

Speaking at a workshop titled "Capital Market Reconstruction and Reality", organized by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) at its auditorium in Paltan on Monday, Khosru argued that genuine development of the stock market requires more than just listing a few quality companies for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

“The capital market will only earn real confidence from stakeholders when government projects start raising funds directly through it,” he said.

Khosru also cautioned that excessive regulatory control, without robust self-regulation, is undermining the market’s institutional strength. He stressed the importance of democratizing the economy to achieve balanced and durable growth.

Addressing questions from journalists, the BNP leader noted that no major reforms would be possible unless there is a fundamental shift in Bangladesh’s political culture. He also reaffirmed his party’s commitment to strengthening the market if returned to power.

“If we are voted in, I assure you we will build a stronger economy and a more vibrant capital market,” he said.

Other prominent speakers at the event included Mominul Islam, Chairman of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE); AKM Habibur Rahman, Chairman of the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE); and the President of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA). 

Together, they discussed strategies to address challenges and unlock the full potential of Bangladesh’s capital market, which continues to attract keen interest from both domestic and foreign investors.