For many students, the first introduction to the stock market did not come from books or from financial articles, but from movies. Classic films like The Wolf of Wall Street, The Big Short, and Margin Call glamourised and intensified trading floors; just as the character of Harvey Specter created many aspiring lawyers. 

Pop culture makes it so that trading looks fast and direct; fast money, fast decisions and even faster consequences. But the dramatic representation does not always align with reality. Because in reality, the stock market is all about patience, persistence and calculated decisions. 

Bangladesh’s stock market does not come with shouting traders, luxurious lifestyles and mountains of cash; but it offers an important opportunity for young people; the ability to learn how money moves, how risks work and how long-term wealth is accumulated. As more students step into the capital market, understanding the difference between movie fiction and market reality becomes an essential factor.

Understanding the stock market 

Bangladesh’s capital market is primarily operated through two exchanges: the OG Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and its cooler cousin the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). Among them, the DSE dominates trading activity and market capitalisation. Students can participate in the world of trading by first opening a Beneficiary Owner (BO) account through a licensed brokerage house. The BO account holds shares, bonds, IPOs (Initial Public Offering), etc. in electronic form. Furthermore, it allows users to buy or sell shares in DSE or CSE.

Returns in the stock market come in two forms:

Capital gains, when shares are sold at a higher price than they were purchased.

Dividends, when companies distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders. 

Saving money in banks in this economy? Firstly, you need a relatively big amount of cash to get substantial returns from interest rates. Secondly, these interest rates fluctuate. Thirdly, DPS or fixed deposit accounts require monthly deposits and failure to pay can leave the account void.

According to Mr. Nafiz Al Razi, Chief Operations Officer, TaxFileBD, “the stock market offers a chance to earn higher returns than banks over the long term and this helps beat inflation.” 

Furthermore, it also builds financial awareness early, teaching how money, risk and the economy works in real life.

In Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) classifies listed companies into A, B, N, and Z categories based on how well they follow rules and reward investors. A-category companies are considered the most reliable and regularly pay dividends, while B-category companies are also compliant but usually pay lower or no dividends.

N-category companies are newly listed and still uncertain, and Z-category companies are the riskiest due to poor performance and rule violations. For beginner investors, focusing on A and B shares is a safer starting point.

“Student investors need to research the current market position of stocks and their categories. It is smart to invest in A or B category companies. But everyone should stay updated regarding capital gains and dividends being given by the companies before investing.” said Mr. Nafiz.

Risks of investing

These days, everything is getting more expensive, and money kept in the bank does not grow much. Because of this, just saving money is not enough anymore. The stock market seems attractive because it gives a chance to grow money over time, especially if students start early and stay patient. Since students are young, they have time on their side.

However, the stock market in Bangladesh is not always safe or predictable. Prices can go up and down suddenly, and rumours can spread fast, causing people to lose money. So while there is a chance to earn, students should not jump in without thinking. 

Many make mistakes by believing tips from Facebook, WhatsApp groups, or friends instead of learning properly. Some even fall for fake online schemes that promise big profits very quickly. Emotions also cause problems such aspanic selling when prices fall or chasing popular stocks when prices rise fast often leads to losses that could have been avoided.

Mr. Nafiz Al Razi provides a simple formula,  “Start small and plan ahead”

“Students should set aside a small amount of their pocket-money every month for investment purposes,” said Mr. Nafiz.

A clear goal must be set, whether it is for long-term wealth building or learning how the market works. A clearly set goal can help guide decisions.

The need to plan long term 

“Putting all funds into a single stock is risky. Students should invest in small amounts across multiple stocks to disperse the risk” said Mr. Nafiz. He also mentioned taking advice from reliable brokerage house traders to properly mitigate such risks and make the best decision moving forward.

“The key is to treat every transaction as an investment, not a form of quick income” This however requires patience and young traders often lose patience and make rash decisions. Short-term trading requires experience and constant monitoring. For students, long-term investing in fundamentally strong companies is generally safer.

Moreover, “Students should not even think of going into stock trading without proper research. It is very important to note.” said Mr. Nafiz. It is very important to follow credible financial news, company disclosures, and regulatory updates as it helps investors make rational decisions rather than emotional ones.

Agencies and brokerage houses are always available for new investors to ask help from. Such institutions often arrange seminars and campaigns in colleges and universities to educate the youth about trading in the stock market. Furthermore, students should not be intimidated by scary words and numbers, even if they don’t make sense it is fairly simple to grasp. 

The Bangladesh stock market is still growing and slowly getting better with new rules, online trading systems, and more efforts to teach people about money. For students, this creates a good opportunity to start learning early. It requires patience, self-control, and a clear understanding of risks. For students who are willing to invest responsibly, starting during student life can be a step toward becoming financially independent in the future.