Through the system the investors from their own premises can place order and receive buy or sale confirmation on the web. They can also watch current market movement for selected stocks and lodge compliant to the CSE for any irregularities.

"Investors have to log on the www.bangladeshstockmarket.com site to open an account by contacting a licensed broker for such trading," Wali-ul Maroof Matin, CEO of CSE, said at a presentation on the ITS at a hotel in Dhaka.

He said the ITS will especially encourage non-resident Bangladeshis to participate in the capital market as they will be able to participate in trading from their own premises.

Initially, the transactions can be made through nine brokers. The investors will have to choose a broker from the list of eligible brokers. It is the responsibility to settle the transaction on behalf of the investor.

The CSE first introduced automated trading with a nationwide network and started trading in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet through wide area network. With the introduction of ITS, the coverage expanded worldwide.

State Minister for Finance Shah Muhammad Abul Hossain was present at the inaugural function, which was addressed by Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Mirza Azizul Islam, CSE President Habibullah Khan and Vice-president Syed Mahmudul Huq.

In his welcome speech, CSE President Habibullah Khan suggested corporatising the large infrastructural projects like Jamuna Bridge and getting them enlisted with the stock exchanges to raise fund from the market.

"By doing so, a significant volume of foreign loans against these projects could be repaid as the process will help raise a large amount. It will also help implement new projects like the third bridge over Karnaphuli river," he said.

Khan urged the government to widen tax gap between the listed and non-listed companies saying, "This will not reduce the total tax collection as the listed companies are well scrutinised by the stock exchanges and the SEC."

The CSE president called upon multinational companies to get enlistment with the capital market. "Major multinationals operating in Bangladesh are listed in their home countries but not in Bangladesh," Khan regretted.

Speaking at the function, SEC Chairman Mirza Azizul Islam said at present there is a little chance of incidents like 1996 share scam as several regulatory measures have been taken to protect the market.