"The market lacks good shares compared to the demands by the investors," he told reporters after a meeting with a delegation from Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) at his office.

He said the quantum of over-subscription in the initial public offerings (IPOs) indicates that the market is in need of good shares.

The DSE had identified 22 stocks having government shares more than two years ago, suggesting the authorities concerned to feed the stock-hungry market.

Replying to a question, the adviser sees no artificial movement in the market and said the market was running in its normal course.

Meeting sources said he stressed the need for completing the ongoing reform programmes for the capital market he left incomplete while leaving the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as its chairman on January 22, 2006.

Replying to another question, Dr Aziz, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Commerce, said the government would try to take legal measures against any proven syndication distorting the prices of essential commodities in the market.

He said the Ministry of Commerce has already been asked to identify the possible cases of syndication although it is very difficult to identify it due to its informal nature of transactions.

Aziz, however, said the government would try to increase the supply of essential items to the market to offset the influence of the business syndicate and neutralise the prices.

"Price control is not desirable in a free market economy... demand-supply determines the prices," said the adviser.