Investment can begin with just Tk1,000, students told at financial literacy workshop

Young people do not need large sums of money to begin investing, speakers at a financial literacy workshop said today (27 June), encouraging university students to develop saving and investment habits early through disciplined financial planning.

The remarks came at a workshop titled "Investing 101: Masterclass", jointly organised by fintech platform Briddhi and LankaBangla at Premier University in Chattogram, with support from the university's Directorate of Students' Welfare (DSW).

The workshop focused on improving financial literacy, personal finance and money management skills among university students, while introducing them to investment opportunities in Bangladesh's capital market.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Dr Jamal Uddin of the Department of Finance at the University of Chittagong, who also serves as a director of Central Counterparty Bangladesh Limited (CCBL), said financial education should begin early to help young people make informed financial decisions.

He said rising inflation is steadily eroding purchasing power, making financial literacy and long-term investment planning increasingly important. He added that micro-investment platforms can help young people begin investing even with limited savings.

Special guest Mominul Haque, director and chief investment officer at Ekush Wealth Management, shared insights from his more than 12 years of experience in the capital market and encouraged students to adopt a long-term investment mindset rather than pursuing short-term gains.

In a recorded message, Premier University Vice-Chancellor Prof SM Nasrul Quadir said financial literacy has become as important as formal education in preparing students for the future.

He said awareness of personal finance, savings and planned investment can help young people become financially independent and responsible citizens while increasing their participation in the country's capital market.

Associate Professor Dr Abdur Rahim, adviser to the university's Directorate of Students' Welfare, inaugurated the workshop and urged students to build practical knowledge of personal finance alongside their academic studies.

Briddhi, which describes itself as Bangladesh's first mutual fund aggregator, said its platform enables users to start investing in mutual funds with as little as Tk1,000, lowering the entry barrier for first-time investors.

The company's founder Imranul Gani Fira, co-founder Faiyaz Hasan, and partners Albin Ahmed, Imam Hossain, Abir Barua and Mohammad Tahsin also attended the programme.

As part of the initiative, LankaBangla offered students the opportunity to open Beneficiary Owner (BO) accounts free of charge, facilitating their entry into the capital market.

The organisers said they hope such programmes will improve financial literacy among young people and help build a more informed and responsible investment culture in Bangladesh.

A similar workshop was held at East Delta University in Chattogram on Thursday.