Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), has identified liquidity mismanagement and indiscipline as the biggest problems for the money market presently.
Speaking at the Inter-University Capital Market Based Real-Time Investment Competition called “NeXTor,” organized by the East West University Investment and Finance Club, Shibli mentioned that lenders often meet investment demands by lending for the long term with money collected for the short term.
He noted that since the country’s independence, the economy has been largely shaped by the money market, but mismanagement of funds has led to a surge in non-performing loans (NPLs) there.
According to recent Bangladesh Bank figures, as of December last year, NPLs at banks amounted to Tk1,45,633 crore, which was 9% of their total outstanding loans, up from the previous year’s 8.16%.
Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Mohammed Farashuddin, speaking at the same event, echoed the sentiment of the BSEC chairman. He highlighted challenges faced by banks in managing funds for long-term investments due to their tendency to gather short-term deposits, sometimes for just one day.
Farashuddin pointed out that the country’s economy consistently grapples with an investment gap to satisfy the demand, suggesting that the capital market has the potential to bridge this divide and play a pivotal role in long-term investments.
Shibli emphasized the evolution of the country’s capital market beyond equity-based investments to offer diverse options capable of meeting long-term investment needs. He proposed the establishment of a robust capital market, including the introduction of a debt board for fundraising through bonds and an SME platform supporting small businesses.
He also disclosed plans to launch a commodity market through the Chittagong Stock Exchange to mitigate issues such as over and under-invoicing.
At the event, the East West University Investment and Finance Club recognized three winners in the real-time investment competition, which saw participation from 22 universities. Dhaka University emerged as the winner, with Bangladesh University of Professionals and North South University securing second and third positions.
Shibli highlighted that through such competitions, participants gain practical insights into the capital market, emphasizing the importance of experiential learning beyond theoretical knowledge.
