United News of Bangladesh

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday stressed the need for transforming Bangladesh’s capital market into an institutional-based and fully paperless market, with the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) becoming a market-driven, competitive and professional institution. “ICB has to play a role in transforming Bangladesh’s capital market from a retail-based market into an institutional-based market,” he said while addressing an event marking the golden jubilee and anniversary of ICB. The finance minister said ICB was established through an ordinance with the objective of developing a free-market economy and a market-based capital market in Bangladesh. He said the corporation was also intended to channel people’s savings into the capital market and facilitate greater investment in the national economy. Khosru said Bangladesh’s capital market had long remained heavily dependent on retail investors, whereas capital markets globally are primarily driven by institutional investors. He urged ICB to move away from its traditional approach and become a fully market-oriented, competitive and professional organisation. The minister said appointments to senior positions in the Securities and Exchange Commission and other financial-sector institutions are being made without political influence as part of the government’s economic reform programme. “No appointments will be made to any bank or financial institution on political considerations,” he said, stressing the government’s policy of keeping such appointments free from political influence. Khosru said work has begun to ensure full automation and digitalisation at every level of the capital market, including the securities regulator, stock exchanges, brokerage houses and ICB. Recalling the government’s “No Paper Transaction, Nothing Paper” policy, he said all activities relating to listing applications, permissions and decision-making must now be completed online. Referring to a recent breakfast meeting in New York between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and senior executives of 15 major global institutions with a combined network of around $36 trillion, the finance minister said international investors had expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s capital market and economic reforms. He said an environment is being created to bring global capital into Bangladesh through private funds, climate financing and derivative products. Khosru also urged domestic institutions to move beyond dependence on conventional high-street banks and become accustomed to international practices in line with global financial markets. He expressed hope that ICB would use its past experience and internal restructuring to emerge as a modern, internationally standard and efficient institution. ICB Chairman Abul Ahmed, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Masud Khan, Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mubarek attended the programme, chaired by Niranjan Chandra Debnath.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government is committed to restoring stability in the capital market and rebuilding investors' confidence through reforms, greater transparency and stronger regulation, noting that the market is gradually improving. "The condition of the capital market is gradually improving and it is now doing well. The government is fully committed to restoring stability in the capital market and rebuilding investors' confidence," he told Parliament during the question-answer session. The issue was raised by Patuakhali-4 lawmaker Alhaj ABM Mosharraf Hossain on behalf of Khulna-4 MP SK Azizul Bari. The parliamentary sitting began at 3 pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad  in the chair. The first 30 minutes were allocated for the Prime Minister's Question Time, during which Tarique answered four starred questions and nine supplementary questions from lawmakers. Responding to the question of MP Mosharraf Hossain, the Prime Minister said the government has already taken a series of initiatives to develop a stronger and more sustainable capital market by ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability, increasing market depth through product diversification, and expanding investor education. The Prime Minister then outlined the government's 17 priority programmes for reforming the capital market. He said investigations conducted by experts, investor organisations and relevant agencies found that the prolonged decline in the stock market during the previous Awami League government's tenure was driven by market manipulation, artificial price movements, irregularities in IPOs and bond issues, weak regulatory oversight, poor corporate governance, lack of transparency, limited participation by institutional investors, a crisis of investor confidence, policy inconsistencies and the absence of investor-friendly tax policies. Tarique said the government plans to identify everyone responsible for the market collapse that left thousands of investors facing heavy losses and bring them to justice. He said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already investigated stock market scandals, identified several individuals and initiated legal action against them, while investigations are continuing to determine whether more individuals or organisations were involved. The Prime Minister said the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has already imposed fines amounting to Tk 1,497 crore on individuals and institutions involved in market manipulation, irregularities and corruption. He said the reports of various investigation committees have also been sent to the ACC for necessary legal action. Listing the government's reform measures, Tarique said a new chairman and three commissioners with expertise in the capital market were appointed to the BSEC on June 4 this year. He said the new commission withdrew the floor price soon after assuming office and is working to encourage the direct listing of profitable state-owned enterprises, multinational companies and other large firms. The Prime Minister said the government is also planning to list more fundamentally strong and SME companies, strengthen whistleblower protection, reform audit practices, facilitate foreign portfolio investment, introduce capital market tribunals, establish reform and investigation commissions, expand the use of blockchain technology, introduce AI-based market surveillance, digitalise BO account services, adopt investor-friendly tax policies and strengthen investor protection through legal reforms. He expressed hope that these measures would help restore confidence among investors and ensure the long-term stability and sustainable growth of Bangladesh's capital market. Replying to a supplementary question from MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam, the Prime Minister said reducing disparities in different sectors is one of the government's key objectives, and the capital market is no exception. He said the experts recently appointed by the government are expected to provide recommendations that will help strengthen not only the Dhaka Stock Exchange but also the Chattogram Stock Exchange. Responding to another supplementary question from MP Abdul Hannan Masud regarding alleged irregularities in insurance companies, Tarique said the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) now has a newly appointed chairman who is investigating the complaints. "Once the investigations are completed, action will be taken in accordance with the law," he said.

Trading at the country’s two bourses advanced in early hours on Monday, the second working day of the week, with major indices posting notable gains amid increased investor participation. The benchmark DSEX of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose 61 points in the first half of the session. The Shariah-based DSES index gained 7 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index advanced 23 points, reflecting a broad-based upward trend. Most of the listed companies saw price appreciation. Of the traded issues, 343 advanced, 21 declined and 24 remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE stood at Tk 360 crore in the first half of the trading session. A similar upward momentum was observed at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). The CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI) rose 106 points during the same period. Stocks slide in early trade as DSEX loses 20 points Among the traded issues at the CSE, 66 advanced, 25 declined and 20 remained unchanged. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of Tk 8 crore in the first half of the session.

Trading at Bangladesh’s capital market moved upward in early hours on Tuesday, with key indices rising on both the bourses and the majority of listed companies posting gains. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX gained 13 points in the first hour of trading on the third working day of the week. The Shariah-based DSES advanced 4 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 2 points. Out of the traded issues, 177 companies saw price appreciation, while 153 declined and 63 remained unchanged. DSE slips after previous surge, turnover declines In the first half of the session, shares and units worth over Tk 700 crore were traded at the DSE. Meanwhile, trading at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed an upward trend, with its key CASPI index climbing 59 points. Of the issues traded at the CSE, 82 advanced, 61 declined and 32 remained unchanged. During the same period, shares and units worth nearly Tk 6.5 crore were traded on the CSE.  

Bangladesh Capital Market Investor Association (BCIA) on Sunday expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s capital market will rebound within the next six months if the newly elected BNP government takes prudent and timely measures. In a statement congratulating the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its landslide victory and absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary election, the investors’ body said the government’s first six months in office would be crucial for rebuilding the economy. BCIA said it firmly expects that the ruling party and a strong opposition will work in coordination to restore the fragile banking system, the battered capital market and the overall struggling trade, commerce and financial management framework within this initial period. The organisation also voiced hope that government initiatives would revive public confidence, encouraging people to invest spontaneously across different sectors of the economy. Advising the new administration, BCIA stressed the need to appoint a financially integrated and dignified Finance Minister, a State Minister for Finance with practical knowledge of the capital market, as well as competent heads of key institutions including Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Highlighting the stagnation in new listings, BCIA noted that while India saw 370 new IPOs over the past two years (2025–2026), not a single company was listed in Bangladesh during the same period. Stocks surge as DSE turnover crosses Tk 500 crore in first half It urged the government to ensure effective coordination among relevant institutions from day one and expedite the listing of at least two to three multinational and profitable state-owned companies to inject fresh momentum into the market and restore investor confidence. The association also pledged that over the next five years, it would work in partnership with the government to contribute positively to the country’s financial sector and support the administration in achieving its highest level of success.

Bangladesh’s capital market recorded its highest daily turnover of 2026 on Tuesday, the last trading day before a four-day closure due to the national election and the weekly holidays. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw transactions worth nearly Tk 800 crore, the highest so far this year. Trading began on a positive note in the morning, with turnover crossing Tk 300 crore within the first two hours. By the end of the session, the total turnover stood at Tk 790 crore. Previously, the highest turnover this year was Tk 746 crore on February 2. With Tuesday’s performance, the market has crossed Tk 700 crore in daily turnover on three occasions so far in 2026. All indices posted gains during the day. The benchmark DSEX surged by 87 points, while the Shariah-based DSES rose by 19 points and the blue-chip DS30 advanced by 27 points. Stocks surge in early trading at DSE, CSE Most listed companies ended higher, as share prices of 288 companies increased against declines in 67, while prices of 37 companies remained unchanged. In the block market, shares of 26 companies worth Tk 23 crore were traded, with Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills Limited topping the list by selling shares worth Tk 8 crore. Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC topped the DSE gainers’ chart with a 10 percent rise, while Keya Cosmetics Limited was the day’s worst performer, losing around 5.5 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a strong rally, with its overall index CASPI jumping by 241 points. On the CSE, prices of 166 companies advanced against declines in 24, while 13 issues remained unchanged. The total turnover at the bourse stood at Tk 9 crore, up from Tk 8 crore in the previous session. Apollo Ispat Complex Limited emerged as the top gainer on the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Global Heavy Chemicals Limited ended at the bottom, shedding more than 9 percent.

Bangladesh’s capital market ended the week on a positive note, with all major indices gaining as overall turnover rose, signalling renewed investor confidence. According to the Weekly Market Pulse report of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index gained 80 points over the week. After opening at 5,154 points, the index closed at 5,234 points, marking a year-on-year rise of more than 7.5 percent. The Shariah-based DSES index advanced 37 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index added 15 points. Over the past year, the two indices have recorded gains of around 7 percent and 8 percent respectively.| The SME index, representing small and medium enterprises, also edged up by more than 3.5 points. Average daily turnover at the DSE climbed to Tk 668 crore during the week, up from Tk 579 crore in the previous week, an increase of over 15 percent. Market breadth remained positive, as share prices of 231 companies increased against declines in 141 companies, while prices of 17 companies remained unchanged. The banking sector emerged as the main attraction for investors. Share prices in the sector rose by more than 116 percent, the highest among all sectors, while turnover surged 123 percent, indicating heavy trading interest. BRAC Bank PLC topped the turnover chart in the banking sector, with its weekly turnover rising by over 3 percent, placing it at the top of the DSE’s trading list. Other actively traded bank stocks included Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC and City Bank PLC. The cement sector followed closely, posting a strong rally as prices increased by 109 percent and turnover rose 93 percent. All seven listed cement companies ended the week with price gains. Among non-bank financial institutions, share prices rose by 44 percent, though turnover declined slightly by around 1.5 percent. Mutual fund units performed well, with prices and turnover increasing by 55 percent and 65 percent respectively. In contrast, the insurance sector underperformed. General insurance stocks saw a 42 percent fall in prices and a 48 percent decline in turnover, while life insurance stocks recorded a 17 percent drop in prices and a 27 percent fall in turnover. In the block market, Fine Foods Limited recorded the highest turnover, selling shares worth nearly Tk 13.8 crore through several transactions. Interestingly, nine of the top ten gainers on the DSE were Z-category companies, while nine of the bottom ten losers were A-category firms. This indicates that despite the overall market rise, non-dividend-paying and financially weaker companies dominated the gainers’ list, while fundamentally strong dividend-paying stocks largely lagged behind. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a positive trend. The overall CASPI index rose by 262 points, while the CSE30 and CSE50 indices gained 253 points and 24 points respectively. UNDP to support Bangladesh’s capital market with thematic bond development At the CSE, share prices of 160 companies increased, compared to declines in 87 companies, while prices of 22 companies remained unchanged. Orion Infusion Limited, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Fine Foods Limited, Lovello Ice Cream PLC and Eastern Bank PLC were the most traded stocks on the CSE during the week.

Bangladesh’s capital market saw a major boost on Monday as the turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) crossed Tk 700 crore for the first time this year, alongside a broad-based rally in share prices. The total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 746 crore worth of shares and units during the session. The previous highest turnover in 2026 was Tk 693 crore, recorded on January 27. Before that, the turnover last crossed the Tk 700 crore mark on October 7, 2025, when transactions amounted to Tk 787 crore, making Monday’s performance the strongest in nearly four months. Stocks open higher on DSE, CSE The benchmark DSEX index jumped 54 points during the day. The Shariah-based DSES advanced 12 points, while the blue-chip DS30 gained 20 points. All three indices rose by more than 1 percent in a single session. Most stocks ended higher, with prices rising for 215 companies against declines for 107, while 68 issues remained unchanged. In the block market, shares of 23 companies worth Tk 13 crore were traded, with Fine Foods Limited topping the list at Tk 6 crore. Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC emerged as the top gainer on the DSE, surging nearly 10 percent, while Meghna PET Industries Limited was the worst performer, shedding around 8 percent. The rally also extended to the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the benchmark CASPI index rose by 111 points. On the CSE, prices increased for 98 companies, declined for 60, and remained unchanged for 25 issues. Stocks advance at DSE, CSE as majority of shares gain The turnover improved to Tk 8 crore, up from Tk 6 crore in the previous session. People’s Leasing and Financial Services Limited topped the CSE gainers’ chart with a 10 percent rise, while FAS Finance and Investment Limited ended at the bottom, losing 10 percent.

Bangladesh’s capital markets opened on a positive note on Wednesday, with benchmark indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) registering gains in early trading. On the fourth working day of the week, the DSE’s benchmark index, DSEX, rose by 33 points. The Shariah-based index DSES gained 5 points, while the blue-chip index DS30 advanced by 15 points. Out of the traded issues on the DSE, prices of 189 companies increased, while 114 declined and 81 remained unchanged. Capital markets surge at DSE with year’s highest turnover The turnover on the premier bourse crossed Tk 290 crore in the first half of the session. The CSE also witnessed an upward trend, with its overall index CASPI climbing 86 points. On the port city bourse, share prices of 67 companies moved up, 30 declined and 17 remained unchanged. The total turnover on the CSE stood at over Tk 2.4 crore during the first half of trading.

Bangladesh’s stock markets posted gains in the first hour of trading on Sunday (January 04, 2026), the opening session of the week, with indices rising at both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses amid broad-based buying. During the first hour, the benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) advanced by 43 points. Read more: Stocks extend losses for second day at DSE, CSE also slips The Shariah-based DSES index gained 3 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index rose by 16 points. Of the 218 companies traded on the DSE in the first hour, share prices increased for 101 companies, declined for 101, and remained unchanged for 65. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 230 crore within the first hour of trading. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed an upward trend, with its overall index CASPI climbing 68 points. Stocks open lower at DSE, CSE as market extends downtrend At the CSE, prices of shares and units rose for 63 companies, fell for 28, and remained unchanged for 10 during the first hour. The total turnover at the port city bourse stood at over Tk 8.20 crore in the same period.