United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka stock market had an unfavorable week, with all indices consistently declining and the majority of company shares following a downward trend. A review of the Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) weekly trading reveals that, over the course of five working days, the main index DSEX fell by 23 points. Starting at 5,225 points, the index ended the week at 5,201 points. Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES dropped by 13 points and the blue-chip company index, DS-30, saw a decrease of 7 points. Wall Street's sell-off slows a bit on Tuesday The situation was particularly dire for small and medium-sized companies. The SME index of DSE fell by 16 points, with the sector losing 1.63% of its index over the week. Throughout the week, most company shares showed a downward trend. While 149 companies saw price increases, 207 companies saw declines in their share prices. The prices of 38 companies remained unchanged, and 18 companies did not participate in the trading. From the start of the week, as the prices of most shares fell, a rush of share selling ensued among investors. This led to increased trading volume, but it did not result in a rise in the overall share prices. The average daily turnover on DSE during the five trading days was Tk 478 crore, which was nearly 22% higher than the previous week.  Despite the increased trading volume, the total market capitalisation decreased. According to data from brokerage houses, many investors have left the market, causing investor confidence to plummet. As per the DSE's weekly report, the market capitalisation decreased by USD 333 million over the week. Stock Market registers fall on first day of Ramadan trading Throughout the week, sectors such as banking, IT, life insurance, textiles, general insurance, tannery, telecom, and jute saw a significant decrease in returns. On the other hand, mutual funds, ceramics, real estate, paper industry, financial institutions, corporate bonds, engineering, energy, and pharmaceuticals witnessed good returns. Among these, mutual funds showed the highest return of 5.14%. The most traded stock of the week was Shinepukur Ceramics, with a total transaction of Tk 16.19 crore over the five working days. Square Pharmaceuticals PLC was second, with a total of Tk 14.5 crore in transactions for the week. In the block market, the highest volume of shares was sold from Marico. Express Insurance Limited, Bank Asia, Beach Hatchery, and Khan Brothers followed in terms of highest sales. In the list of companies that saw the highest price increase over the week, Progressive Life Insurance Limited topped the list, with a 30% increase in its share price. The company’s shares, which started at Tk 47, ended the week at Tk 62. Stock market trends maintain upward momentum in Dhaka, Chattogram Conversely, the worst-performing company in terms of price drop was Alif Industries Limited, whose share price decreased by 13.57%. Starting at Tk 65, the share price fell to Tk 56 by the end of the week. In a bid to improve the dire state of the stock market, the government formed a four-member committee on Monday (17 March) for the development of the market. The committee’s purpose, as stated, is to further strengthen the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and, ultimately, to work on the overall development of the country's stock market. The first meeting of this committee was held on the last working day of the week, chaired by the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Anisulzaman Chowdhury. Market participants are saying that both the task force and the committee must take effective measures, as mere meetings will not solve the ongoing problems in the market. On the other hand, the downtrend of the index continued at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). The overall index at CSE fell by 17 points. Although trading began at 14,576 points, by the end of the week, the index stood at 14,559 points. Throughout the week, 302 companies participated in the CSE's trading, with the share prices of 154 companies rising, 124 companies' prices falling, and 24 companies maintaining unchanged prices. Stock indices decline in Dhaka, Chittagong markets; trading volume rises During the five trading days, the highest trading volume was recorded for shares of United Commercial Bank. Other companies among the top traded included Uttara Bank, Fine Foods, Robi, Fu-Wan Ceramics, and Shinepukur Ceramics. The top performer in terms of price increase at CSE was Paramount Insurance Company, with the share price increasing by Tk 10 within a week. Other companies in strong positions include Shinepukur Ceramics, DBH First Mutual, Semi Lecture Equity Management, and S Alam Cold Rolled Steels. On the other hand, the highest price decrease was seen in Suhrid Industries Limited, with a fall of Tk 15 in its share price within the week. Like the DSE, a sharp decline was also observed in Alif Industries at CSE, with its share price falling by Tk 14 during the five trading days.

Dhaka's stock market opened strong, with most share prices rising in early trading on both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges. On Tuesday, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), DSEX, rose by 22 points at the start of trading. Asian stocks rise as China's tech shares see gains Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES gained 5 points, while the blue-chip index increased by 6 points. Most company shares have seen a price increase, with 247 companies witnessing gains, 55 experiencing declines, and 67 remaining unchanged. In the first hour of trading, the total transaction value at DSE surpassed Tk 150 crore. Similarly, the overall index of the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) has risen by 17 points. Of the 66 companies traded, 45 saw price increases, 12 witnessed declines, and 8 remained unchanged. Bangladesh Bank to issue new notes for Eid-ul-Fitr from March 19 The total transaction value at CSE exceeded Tk 1.2 crore in the first hour of trading.

Khulna Printing & Packaging Ltd (KPPL) has remained closed for nearly three years—its factory and head office are both non-operational. Yet, its shares are being traded vigorously in the stock market, raising suspicions among investors and relevant authorities. According to Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) records, despite no production activity in the past year, KPPL's share price soared from Tk 7 to a peak of Tk 59. Currently, each share is being traded above Tk 30. A review of DSE’s website reveals that the company has no official website. The web address listed under Lockpur Group is non-functional, and all the contact numbers provided are inactive. Stock markets open higher in Dhaka, Chattogram There is no information available regarding company representatives. A Ghost Company? A visit to Lockpur Group’s head office in Fakirhat, Bagerhat, confirms that most of its subsidiaries have been shut down for years. KPPL’s chairman, SM Amzad Hossain, was also the founding chairman of South Bangla Agriculture & Commerce Bank. During his tenure from 2013 to 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accused him of bond fraud and money laundering. Eventually, he was forced to resign in September 2021. In March 2021, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the bank accounts of Amzad Hossain and his wife. Consequently, the struggling KPPL faced a financial crisis, leading to its effective shutdown. Former employees of KPPL confirm that the company used to produce packaging for frozen fish and processed food. Along with KPPL, another subsidiary of Lockpur Group, Bangladesh Poly Printing International, has also ceased operations. Habibur Rahman, a former employee, states that none of Lockpur Group’s businesses are currently operational. Stock markets decline throughout week, investors left disheartened At its peak, KPPL employed around 250–300 workers, but now the factory is completely abandoned. Irregular Share Trading Raises Questions In February 2024, a DSE delegation inspected KPPL’s factory in Rupsa, Khulna, and confirmed that production had been suspended. However, despite being a non-operational company, its shares have become a tool for market manipulation. Over the past month, KPPL’s share price has surged by more than 350%. An anonymous senior official from a brokerage house in Motijheel reveals that this is not the first time such manipulation has occurred with KPPL’s shares. A certain group has been exploiting weaknesses in DSE’s software, yet DSE has only issued warnings instead of taking concrete action. On Tuesday (February 4), the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) directed DSE to investigate the abnormal price movement of KPPL’s shares. On 2 February, DSE had already sent a letter to KPPL seeking an explanation for the irregular trading, but the company has not responded. When asked why BSEC has not taken stricter action, Executive Director Rezaul Karim stated that while the commission can issue direct orders, it is DSE’s responsibility to investigate and take action. BSEC is prepared to assist, if necessary. Investors Aware of the Risks but Still Taking Chances Discussions with investors indicate that most are aware that KPPL has stopped production and that its shares are highly risky. Due to a liquidity crisis in the market and their ongoing losses, some investors are willing to take the risk. Investor Tarek Hossain questions why the regulatory bodies fail to act against such companies. "Investors may make mistakes in decision-making, but why can’t the commission or the exchange house take the right action? Why don’t they delist such problematic companies?" he asks. A History of Losses Even when KPPL was operational, it was a loss-making company. DBA urges extension of special fund for stock market investment Financial reports show that the company incurred a loss of Tk 7.92 crore in 2019. While it managed a profit of Tk 6 crore in 2020, its losses soared to Tk 33 crore in 2021. The company’s latest financial statement from 2022 reports an accumulated loss of Tk 2.31 crore. Since listing on the stock exchange in 2014, KPPL last paid dividends to investors in 2020—offering a mere 0.25% return. Why Is KPPL Still Listed on the Stock Market? Saiful Islam, President of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA), questions the rationale behind keeping KPPL listed. "A company that has not been in production for more than six months should not remain on the stock market. Yet, KPPL has been inactive for years, while its shares continue to be manipulated. DSE should conduct an on-site investigation and remove such companies from the market. Keeping KPPL listed only encourages manipulators," he said. A senior DSE official, when asked why KPPL has not been delisted, pointed to regulatory constraints. "In the past, when we delisted companies, the commission pressured us to reinstate them, arguing that the delisting process was not systematic. Since then, we have reduced direct interventions in such matters." DSE Director Minhaj Mannan Emon highlights the lack of quality IPOs over the past decade as a key issue. "Poor-quality companies now dominate the market, creating opportunities for manipulation. It is impossible to manipulate shares of reputable companies like Square or ACI. However, companies like KPPL are destabilising the market and putting investors at risk," he explains. The Need for a Buyback Law KPPL’s financial records from 2022 show that 60% of its shares are held by investors, while 39% are with company directors, and 1% belongs to institutional investors. Given this situation, investors are calling for the implementation of a buyback law for such companies. DSE has assured that its regulatory division is closely monitoring the situation. Experts believe that after repeated market manipulation and financial failures, there is no room for further irregularities.

After five consecutive days of decline, the Dhaka stock market finally saw an upward trend on the first trading day of the week. On Sunday, the Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) key index, the DSEX, rose by 11 points, reaching 5,145 points by the end of the trading session. Both the Shariah-based index (DSES) and the selective blue-chip index (DS-30) also saw gains. The DSES increased by 4 points, while the DS-30 rose by 8 points. Stock market opens on a positive note, majority companies see gains Throughout the day, most companies saw their share prices rise. In total, 172 companies recorded price increases, while 160 companies saw a decline, and 64 companies' prices remained unchanged. Out of 217 shares in the 'A' category, 114 saw price increases, 65 experienced declines, and 38 remained steady. In the 'B' category, 30 stocks saw price hikes, 46 recorded decreases, and 13 remained unchanged. Despite the overall index increase, shares in the 'Z' category, however, largely saw declines. Among 86 shares in the Z-category, 26 experienced price increases, 48 saw declines, and 12 remained unchanged. Most mutual fund stocks saw no price change, with 18 of the 37 mutual funds remaining stable, 6 experiencing price increases, and 13 recording price decreases. Stock Regulatory measures on several market manipulators caused a plunge last week: Analysts The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has sought an explanation from Khulna Printing and Packaging, a company in the Z category that has frequently topped the trading list. Over the last four months, the company's shares, which were priced at Tk 7, have surged to Tk 59 per share. The company responded, asserting that it is not spreading any rumours, and that the price increase is a result of market-driven trading. In terms of trading volume, there was an uptick in transactions. On Thursday, 16th January, the total turnover stood at Tk 363 crore, which increased by Tk 5 crore to reach Tk 368 crore on Sunday. While all indices in the DSE showed increases, the SME sector saw a drop. The SME Index (SMEX) declined by 7 points, with total trading in the SME sector reaching Tk 8.51 crore, down from Tk 8.62 crore on the previous day. Along with Dhaka, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a rise in its index, although trading volume decreased. BIDA launches FDI Heatmap to attract targeted investment in key sectors The CSE's CSCX index rose by 6 points, with total trading amounting to Tk 3.26 crore, a decrease from the previous day's Tk 4.72 crore. At the close of trading, 85 companies saw their prices rise, 81 experienced declines, and 29 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended Sunday's trading with an upward trend. The DSE's broad index increased by a record 73.43 points to 5178.86 points, compared to 5105.43 points in the previous (Thursday) trading session. The shariah-based DSES index increased by 12.40 points to 1152.45 points, and the DS30 blue-chip index was up by 26.42 points to settle at 1908.32 points. DSE index gains 30.88 points as 211 stocks rise in early trading The stock market trading saw pace in the day as most of the stocks lost their prices in the previous session. The small investors in the previous session were trying to sell their stocks in fear of losing price. A total of 10.28 crore shares and units changed hands through 100962 transactions, seeing a decrease compared to the previous session of 11.34 crore shares, whose transaction number was 102838. A total of Tk 304.1 crore shares and bonds were traded in the DSE on Sunday, which is Tk 47 crore less than the previous session on Thursday. Out of the 390 issues (companies) traded, 232 advanced, 89 declined and 69 remained unchanged at the DSE. The port city bourse, CSE, also settled on an upward trend of trading. The All Share Price Index (CASPI) increased by 129.85 points and settled at 14304 points. On the CSE, 166 companies participated in trading. Of them, 87 companies recorded price gains, 47 companies saw declines, and 32 companies remained unchanged. At the CSE shares and units of 25.4 akh were changed hands through 1261 transactions on Sunday. The value of trading shares and units is Tk 5.7 crores, which was Tk 4.27 crore on the previous day (Thursday).  

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) concluded Wednesday's trading session with a decline, as share prices of 291 companies dropped amid selling pressure from small investors. The benchmark DSE broad index, DSEX, fell by 42.33 points, closing at 5,124.49, down from 5,166.83 points in the previous session on Tuesday. The shariah-compliant DSES index dropped by 12.43 points to 1,142.10, while the DS30 blue-chip index decreased by 14.19 points, ending the day at 1,889.42. DSE benchmark index drops by 10.71 points as 171 companies’ price fell in 1 hours Trading activity slowed considerably, with a total of 12.45 crore shares and units changing hands through 116,982 transactions—down from 16.32 crore shares in 131,043 transactions the previous day. The total trade value stood at Tk 304.2 crore, marking a Tk 80 crore decrease from Tuesday. Market analysts attributed the downward trend to heightened selling pressure as small investors, worried about potential losses, rushed to offload their holdings. Out of 399 issues traded on the DSE, 291 companies recorded declines, 50 advanced, and 58 remained unchanged. The overall sentiment extended to the port city bourse, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the All Share Price Index (CASPI) dropped by 75.36 points, settling at 14,364.44. DSE ends Tuesday’s trading on downtrend, transactions hit Tk 383 crore On the CSE, 195 companies participated in trading. Among them, 40 saw price increases, 119 recorded declines, and 36 remained unchanged. A total of 22.79 lakh shares and units were traded through 1,555 transactions, with a total turnover of Tk 4.79 crore—significantly lower than Tuesday's Tk 6.97 crore. DSE index rises by 25.24 points in early trading; Tk 97.2 crore traded in first hour

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw its key index edge up by 17.65 points on Wednesday, despite a sharp decline in trading volume compared to the previous session. The benchmark DSEX index closed at 5,316.07 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index rose by 1.95 points to 1,184.95. Meanwhile, the DS30 blue-chip index gained 2.10 points, ending the day at 1,972.20. However, trading volume at the DSE fell significantly. Shares and mutual funds worth Tk 479.8 crore changed hands, down by Tk 97.8 crore from Tuesday’s Tk 577.6 crore. A total of 13.17 crore shares and units were traded through 1,161,189 transactions. Out of the 394 companies that participated in Wednesday’s trading, the prices of 152 stocks rose, 175 declined, and 67 remained unchanged. At the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the CASPI index inched up by just 0.18 points to close at 14,781.32. The day’s transactions at the CSE were notably sluggish, with a turnover of Tk 4.36 crore—far lower than Tuesday’s Tk 12.62 crore. A total of 195 companies were traded on the CSE, with 69 stocks gaining, 94 declining, and 32 remaining unchanged. Overall, 18.76 lakh shares and units were traded through 2,162 transactions.

Stocks in Dhaka saw a sharp decline last week, with the DSEX falling below 5,300 for the first time in three months as anxious investors sold off to prevent further portfolio losses. The market remained dominated by sellers throughout the week, extending its losing streak for the fourth consecutive week. The market started the week in free fall, hitting session lows across all four days as retail investors, in particular, engaged in panic selling. The main index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), DSEX, finally settled at 5,258, down over 164 points or 3.03 percent from the previous week. The DSEX has lost 476 points in the last four weeks. Read more: Small investors’ woes in stock market not over yet Investors concerned continued to shed their holdings after noting that heavy-weight issues, including mutational companies, continued to fall in the past few weeks, putting further pressure on indices. Investors preferred to trim their equity exposures and adopted a wait-and-see approach amid uncertainties surrounding earnings declarations for June-ending companies. Macroeconomic and regulatory uncertainties also acted as negative catalysts that ignited the selling spree, allowing the bears to retain control for a prolonged period. DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, lost 164.1 points, or 3.0 percent, to settle at 5,258 points. Investors' participation in the market continued to fall by 13.3 percent to TK 3,180 million as compared to TK 3,667 million in the previous week.  Read more: BSEC Chairman urges stakeholder cooperation for stock market reforms Investors were primarily active in the banking sector (20.4%), followed by the pharmaceutical sector (16.5%) and the IT sector (11.3%). Sectors closed in the red, with the services sector (-8.8%) experiencing the largest decline. Five large-cap stocks such Islami Bank, Brac Bank, British American Tobacco, Renata and Beacon Pharma together accounted for one-fourth of the index's decline during the week, according to EBL Securities. This week, Tk 52 billion was wiped out from the market capitalization of the DSE, which now stands at Tk 6,691 billion. Over the past four consecutive weeks, the market capitalisation has declined by a total of Tk 242 billion. The market capitalisation is calculated by multiplying a company’s total number of outstanding shares by its current market price. Read more: Share Market Investment Guide: How to Invest in Stocks in Bangladesh The blue-chip DS30 index, a group of 30 prominent companies, also lost 54 points to close at 1,930 while the DSES index, which represents Shariah-based companies, shed 32 points to 1,174.

Small investors in Bangladesh’s stock market remain trapped, with their woes persisting due to a lack of confidence, weak governance and economic instability, despite assurances from regulators of an eventual market rebound, according to experts. “No one, not even the regulator or stock market authorities, pays heed to our screams,” said Saiful Islam, a grocery owner and one of the affected investors,” in a broken voice while talking to UNB regarding the capital market. Saiful invested Tk 14 lakh in 2010 to buy shares of different companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). Dhaka stocks drop in early trading today After graduating in 2004, Saiful found no suitable job and then started a small business in the Motijheel area in 2007 with support from his father-in-law. He made a good profit in the business and invested the money in the share market. In 2010, Saiful invested around Tk 14 lakh, of which Tk 6 lakh was his own and Tk 8 lakh he borrowed from relatives. All of his investment was stuck in shares of different companies due to a major scam in the capital market in 2011. Like Saiful, thousands of investors lost their hard-earned capital in 2011, and after that, some were able to regain part of their capital. However, most of them left the capital market, losing nearly all their investment. Many such investors are still in the market, hoping for a rebound in the DSE, but without any good news. DSEX drops by 43 points as prices of 288 companies fall, Chittagong Stock Exchange follows suit There is no sign of lifting the floor price before the next election. However, economists say that people do not have confidence in the market. The BSEC advises investors to remain patient. Analysts say that the small investors’ woes in the capital market are unlikely to end before the national election as their wait for a good time is prolonged by Bangladesh’s recent ‘instability’. The small investors’ shares were once stuck at the floor price (minimum sale rate) due to the overall economic downturn. The floor price barrier ended after the change in government in Bangladesh. However, the prices of most companies' shares have not increased to the desired level for small investors. Dhaka Stock Exchange sees early week gains This has been painful for many unfortunate small investors in the capital markets, according to market analysts. Policymakers and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) paint a rosy picture for small investors, saying that the stock markets will rebound with the enlistment of new companies and the injection of large investments. However, the situation for small investors seems hopeless. A large number of shareholders have been stuck with their investments in the capital market for over a decade amid fading hopes. Experts' Analysis Dr ABM Mirza Azizul Islam, an economist and former adviser of a caretaker government, told UNB that there has been a crisis of confidence among investors in the stock market for a long time. “To this are added various economic crises, the international situation, and everything, including elections and national politics. As a result, first of all, steps should be taken to eliminate the trust crisis. In this case, trust should be ensured by establishing good governance,” he added. Dhaka Stock Exchange slips below 5,400-point as Islami Bank shares plummet nearly 10% “That means investors have to be assured that if someone steals their money through manipulation, they will be prosecuted. Besides, the supply of good shares should be increased. Through these two steps, it is possible to solve the market problem. But it is not easy at all,” said Dr Azizul Islam. Dr Abu Ahmed, Chairman of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and former professor of Dhaka University’s Economics Department, said there are two crises in the market: one on the demand side and the other in investor confidence. On the supply side, he said, the problem is that there are fewer good companies. As a result, it is a win-win situation for manipulation and syndicates. “All in all, the stock market is currently in an unstable condition and the situation is gradually getting worse. The passage from here is very difficult,” he said. Ahmed also noted that people are sometimes investing in weak shares with the expectation of a big profit, which is not the right way of investing due to a lack of financial literacy. Read mnore: Share Market Investment Guide: How to Invest in Stocks in Bangladesh

Small investors in the stock market are frustrated as their wait for a good time gets delayed by the Bangladesh’s ongoing political unrest. The political impasse over who should oversee the upcoming national polls is thwarting the stock market’s recovery from Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war. The small investors’ shares are stuck on the floor price (minimum sale rate) and overall economic downfall. This has been painful for many unfortunate small investors of the capital markets, according to market analysts. Policymakers and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) paint a rosy picture for small investors saying that stock markets will rebound with enlistment of new companies and injection of big investments. But the situation for the small investors seems to be hopeless. Read: Economy buffeted by political unrest amid declining forex reserves: Analysts A large number of shareholders have remained stuck with their investment in the capital market for over a decade amid fading hopes. “No one, not even the regulator or stock market authorities pay heed to their screams,” Abdul Latif, a grocery owner and one of the affected investors, told UNB in a broken voice. He said he invested Tk13 lakh in 2011 to buy shares of different companies listed in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). After graduation in 1998 Latif found no suitable job and then started a small business in the Motjheel area in 2002 with support from his father-in-law. He made a good profit in the business and invested money in the share market. In 2010 Latif invested around Tk13 lakh of which 5 lakh was his own and 8 lakh borrowed from relatives. All of his investment was stuck in shares of different companies due to a big scam in the capital market in 2011. Read: Govt aims to collect 11.2% of GDP in taxes by FY 2025-26 Like Latif, thousands of investors lost their hard-earned capital in 2011, and after that, some were able to gain part of the capita. But most of them left the capital market losing nearly all investment. Many of such investors are still in the market hoping for a rebound in the DSE, but without any good news. There is no sign of lifting the floor price before the next election. However, economists say that people do not have confidence in the market. BSEC advises investors to be patient until the general election is held by January next. Dr ABM Mirza Azizul Islam, an economist and a former adviser of a caretaker government, told UNB that there has been a crisis in investors' confidence in the stock market for a long time. “To this are added various economic crises, the international situation, and everything including elections and national politics,” he said. Read: Despite challenges, govt hoping to restore economy’s pre-Covid momentum in current fiscal As a result, first of all, steps should be taken to eliminate the trust crisis. In this case, trust should be ensured by establishing good governance, he said. That is, the investors have to be given the assurance that if someone steals their money through manipulation, they will be prosecuted. Besides, the supply of good shares should be increased. Through these two steps, it is possible to eliminate the market problem. But it is not easy at all, said Dr Azizul Islam. Dr Abu Ahmed, former professor of Dhaka University’s Economics Department, said there are two crises in the market: one on the demand side and the other in investor confidence. On the supply side, the problem is that there are fewer good companies. As a result, it is a win-win situation for manipulation and syndicates, he said. Read: Country’s first electrical testing laboratory on the cards All in all, the stock market is currently in an unstable condition and gradually the situation is getting worse. The passage from here is very difficult, he said. According to market insiders, the stock market situation is in a dire. The situation is not improving due to political uncertainty ahead of national elections, increases in commodity prices, and various international issues. The market has lost its importance to the government as well. For those who are not directly involved with government policymakers, the stock market is a source of irritation. Their thinking is like this - if there is no stock market, there will be no problem in the country. For these reasons, the government wants to hold the market with floor prices until the next national election. This brings an opportunity for syndicates blessed by the regulatory body to be controlling the market, the market insiders said. They spoke on condition of anonymity. BSEC Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam told UNB in this regard that the global situation is not in the hands of the regulator or the government. Investors should beware of investing with any company depending on rumours. He also said due to a lack of financial literacy, people are sometimes investing in weak shares with an expectation of big profit which is not the right way of investment. Read: BSEC sits with stock market stakeholders Thursday after drastic fall of share prices