B Mirror Report: After winning the 13th National Parliamentary Election, leaders of the brokerage community have urged the new government to take visible steps toward reforming the stock market within its first 100 days in office. They say timely and bold decisions are now essential to restore investor confidence and stabilize the fragile economy.
Saiful Islam, President of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA), said they are waiting to see what specific measures the new government will take in the first 100 days to develop the stock market, in line with its election manifesto. According to him, both the economy and the market are currently in a very vulnerable state. To overcome this situation, the government must implement an effective roadmap quickly, alongside a long-term plan.
Echoing similar views, Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Director Minhaj Mannan Emon alleged that widespread plundering and mismanagement have plagued the market for the past 15–17 years, leaving thousands of investors financially ruined. He added that merit and competence, rather than political affiliation, should be prioritized in appointing the chairman and commissioners of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC). He also called for eliminating policy coordination gaps among regulatory bodies and allowing stock exchanges to operate independently.
Market insiders have pointed out that there is virtually no supply of IPOs or new shares in the market at present, worsening the liquidity crisis. Foreign investor participation has also declined alarmingly. However, analysts view the 170-point rise in the DSEX index to 5,399 points over the two trading days before the election, along with daily turnover increasing to Tk 790 crore, as a sign of renewed positive expectations among investors.
Brokers expect the new government to restructure the BSEC, bring fundamentally strong companies to the market, and take strict legal action against any irregularities. They believe that if a clear reform message is not delivered within the first 100 days, the recent market momentum will not be sustained.
