CSE in Final Stages of Launching Commodity Derivatives Market, Stresses Investor Education

Preparations to launch a commodity derivatives market at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) are in their final stages. Once launched, the new market will add another avenue for investment in the capital market. But alongside new products, the CSE believes raising investor awareness and education is essential.

CSE Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) Mohammad Mahadi Hasan made the remarks on Sunday (November 1) at an industrial visit programme for students of the Faculty of Business Administration of the International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC).

Mahadi Hasan said that as part of the final-stage preparations, the CSE is building the ecosystem the commodity derivatives market needs. Investors are among the market's key stakeholders, so educating them and making them aware is extremely important. Today's students are tomorrow's investors, and they must gain practical knowledge of the capital market from their student life.

He said investors must move beyond conventional thinking. Instead of thinking only of shares, they should build the habit of investing in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds and other products, and diversify their portfolios to reduce investment risk.

The visit was organised so students could gain practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge of the capital market and improve their skills. As part of it, a team from IIUC's Faculty of Business Administration visited the CSE office at Agrabad in Chattogram, where students were briefed on the investment products available in Bangladesh's capital market, financial management, investment risk, potential returns and future planning.

Arif Ahmed, DGM and head of the CSE's surveillance department, said that whatever one's field of study, technical knowledge and awareness of current affairs are essential to become skilled in the digital age. Professor Dr Naznin Jahan Chowdhury of IIUC's business faculty said business students need both theoretical and practical knowledge of investment, the capital market and stock exchanges. Associate Professor Md Ariful Haque of the same faculty said those who want to become investors in the future must prepare themselves from now and build the habit of deciding through their own observation and analysis rather than relying on others' advice.