The home affairs ministry, in a move to maintain order in the stock market, on Thursday asked the Dhaka Stock Exchange to strengthen its security system and introduce identity cards for investors.
It also suggested installation of closed-circuit TV cameras in the areas near the Dhaka Stock Exchange leading up to Shapla Square in Motijheel to help the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order.
The ministry held a meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Dhaka Stock Exchange authorities against the backdrop of frequent demonstrations and incidents of violence after the free-fall of share prices and the government's perceived reluctance to protect the interest of common investors in the last few months.
'We have asked the Dhaka Stock Exchange to heighten its own security to maintain law and order,' home affairs
minister Sahara Khatun told reporters after presiding over the meeting at the secretariat.
She said that the ministry had proposed formation of a crisis management team and a coordination committee to tackle any critical situations in the capital market in a more effective manner.
The ministry's suggestions came up at the meeting as the DSE and SEC expressed concern over incidents of violent protest, in protest against the plummeting of share prices, when angry demonstrators vandalised vehicles and other properties in Motijheel.
Law enforcement agencies often had to resort to lathi-charge and firing of tear-gas shells and widespread arrests to contain violent protests by investors in Motijheel commercial area. Most of around 33 lakh beneficiary owners account holders, mainly small-scale investors, lost the major part of their capital because of the stock market debacle that started in January.
When asked when the ID cards would be issued, DSE's president Shakil Rizvi told reporters that they would take a decision in this regard after discussion with the board of directors.
Home affairs secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said that the meeting recommended increasing the number of security personnel inside the DSE.
The newly-appointed chairman of the SEC, M Khairul Hossain, and senior officials of the police and Rapid Action Battalion were also present at the meeting.
The SEC's chairman termed the meeting a 'courtesy call' on him after his appointment on Sunday.
Source: New Age
