As consumer behaviour changes frequently, manufacturers need to follow the trends to market their products and services, they suggested.

Bangladesh chapter of world's leading marketing information company ACNielsen organised the conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel to help manufactures develop understanding of consumers' expectations.

Speaking as a panel discussant, Latifur Rahman, chairman of Transcom Group, said market research by companies like ACNielsen can help companies go close to consumers' need and increase sales.

Smaller packs are driving sales growth in the rural areas having greater number of retailers, Russell Farmery, managing director, ACNielsen South Asia said citing examples of skincare items, shampoo and toothpaste.

He urged manufacturers and marketers in Bangladesh to monitor shift in consumer behaviour taking place in modern trade.

Citing his research findings, Khalid Hasan, country manager of ACNielsen Bangladesh, said television viewership and newspaper readership are increasing while people are now less interested in cinema or radio. "Companies must keep this in mind while selecting their media for advertisement," he suggested.

ACNielsen provides market research, information, analysis and insights to the consumer products and service industries in more than 100 countries across the world.

Partha Rakshit, chairman of ACNielsen Bangladesh and managing director of ACNielsen India, Syed Ferhat Anwar, a professor of IBA, Dhaka University, Iftekharul Islam, managing director of Aventis Bangladesh, Mahmudur Rahman, head of Corporate of Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Muneer Ahmed Khan, CEO of Unitrend Ltd and Dr Yasmin H Ahmed, managing director of Marie Stopes Clinic Society, also spoke at the function.