The Bangladesh Capital Market Investors Association (BCMIA) has called for a protest rally in Motijheel on Monday (February 3) for the affected investors of the capital market. The central leaders of various political parties including BNP, Jamaat, AB Party and Gana Adhibar Parishad and affected investors of the capital market will speak at the rally of the investors. However, there have been allegations of threats against the self-regulatory body Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to stop the rally.

The rally’s chief spokesperson Md. Nurul Islam Manik alleged that BSEC was threatening officials of various brokerage houses and merchant banks to refrain from participating in the rally. BCMIA gave this information at a press conference organized at the Capital Market Journalists Forum (CMJF) office in Bijoynagar in the capital on Saturday (February 1).

He said, we will hold a rally next Monday. However, the BSEC is threatening brokerage house employees and investors to not participate in this rally.

He further said that the information received about BSEC’s actions to stop the rally of investors is disgusting. This is dictatorial behavior, it is not right. Every person will speak up for their fair rights, protest and rally, this is the reality. I strongly protest against such behavior of BSEC.

When asked about the allegations, the executive director and spokesperson of the regulatory body BSEC, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, told the media that it is a complete lie and rumor. No such threat has been given by the commission to anyone.

He further said that ordinary investors have the right to rally. The commission will never prevent it. However, if there is solid evidence of involvement in such activities against anyone, the commission will take action.