Bangladesh’s capital market rebounded sharply on Sunday as trading resumed after a four-day holiday for the 13th parliamentary election, with the benchmark index surging and turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) hitting a five-month high.
The turnover crossed Tk 200 crore within the first 30 minutes of trading and surpassed Tk 500 crore before noon. By the end of the session, total turnover stood at Tk 1,275 crore, the highest in the past five months.
Stocks surge in early trading at DSE, CSE
It was also the first time in 2026 that daily turnover exceeded Tk 1,000 crore. Investors said the market had been struggling in the months leading up to the election, with trading volume at one point falling to around Tk 200 crore, as many investors stayed on the sidelines amid uncertainty.
The completion of what they described as a credible election and a stable post-election environment helped restore confidence.
“The turnover had dropped to nearly Tk 200 crore, whereas in September 2025 it exceeded Tk 1,400 crore. If the country remains stable after the election, daily turnover could even cross Tk 1,500 crore,” said investor Altaf Hossain.
Another investor, Hamidur Rahman, said sustained momentum would encourage both retail and institutional investors to return to the market.
DSE Director Minhaz Mannan Emon expressed optimism about the market’s long-term outlook, citing reform initiatives taken by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).
“The commission has taken a number of reform measures, including changes related to initial public offerings, merchant banks and margin loans, which will help ensure greater transparency and discipline in the market,” he said.
Market insiders said stronger investor participation could attract quality IPOs and multinational companies to list, enabling the market to regain its vibrancy.
Abu Ahmed, chairman of the state-owned Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB), said he expects reputable companies to enter the market during the tenure of the newly elected government.
“There has been no quality IPOs in the past 18 months. With limitations in the IPO process addressed and a credible election now completed, there are no major obstacles to bringing good companies to the market. A single strong listing can change the entire market outlook,” he said.
BSEC spokesperson Abul Kalam urged policymakers to consider the impact of any financial decisions on the capital market, noting that certain steps taken by state financial institutions and the central bank in recent months had hurt investor sentiment.
On Sunday, the DSE broad index DSEX jumped 200 points, over 3.5 percent, to close at 5,600 points. The Shariah-based DSES gained 30 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index rose 86 points — up 2 percent and 4 percent respectively.
Out of 394 traded issues, 364 advanced, 26 declined and four remained unchanged.
In block trading, shares worth Tk 12 crore of 39 companies were transacted, with Orion Infusion Limited leading the chart at Tk 2 crore.
One Bank PLC topped the gainers’ list on the DSE with a 10 percent rise, while Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC fell nearly 5 percent to become the day’s worst performer.
The rally extended to the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the CASPI index soared 484 points — the highest single-day gain in 2026.
The turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 24 crore, up from Tk 9 crore in the previous session, marking an increase of Tk 15 crore in a single trading day.
Of the traded issues, 220 advanced, 17 declined and 10 remained unchanged.
FAS Finance and Investment Limited gained nearly 15 percent to top the CSE gainers, while Northern Islami Insurance PLC shed around 10 percent to close at the bottom.