A three-day exposition on the capital market will begin in Dhaka on Thursday, in a bid to promote the stockmarket, which is suffering from high volatility since the price crash in early 2011.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed will inaugurate the Bangladesh Capital Market Expo 2016 at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. An online financial newspaper -- arthosuchak.com -- is organising the event, which will remain open to visitors from 10am to 8pm.

“Peoples' perception of the capital market was mostly negative after the early 2011 crash. But people's mindset has to be changed, if we would like to see the capital market contribute to the country's economy,” Ziaur Rahman, editor of the news site, said at a press meet in Dhaka yesterday.

One of the major objectives of the exposition is to raise awareness among people, especially those who have less or a negative understanding of the country's stockmarket, he added.

President of Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association Md Sayadur Rahman said the economic development of a country is not possible without the capital market's contribution. “The market capitalisation to GDP ratio in our country is only 20 percent, while the ratio is 70 percent in India,” he said.

A total of 40 companies, including stock exchanges, stockbrokers, merchant banks, asset management firms, credit rating agencies, audit firms and listed companies will participate in the show, which will be sponsored by City Capital Resources, Olympic Industries and Shahjibazar Power Company.

Four seminars on the prospects and challenges of mutual funds, investment strategy, good governance in listed companies and role of capital market in economic development will be held on the sidelines.

The fair will also host a variety of entertainment options, including a raffle draw, which will offer Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur-Dhaka air tickets, motorcycles and smartphones.