Share prices continued to fall on Bangladesh’s stock market despite several companies announcing their highest-ever dividends since listing, raising concerns over investor confidence and the effectiveness of market regulators.

Market participants said the lack of a positive response to strong dividend announcements was disappointing and reflected a deepening crisis of confidence among investors. They also called for a review of the market’s persistent weakness, criticising the absence of visible and effective initiatives to stabilise the market.

On Tuesday (October 27), the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw its major indices decline, trading turnover fall and most listed securities lose value.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, fell 12.99 points to 5,386.54. The DSES, the Shariah-based index, dropped 6.67 points to 1,046.76, while the DSE-30 index declined 2.83 points to 2,087.91.

A total of 387 securities traded on the DSE. Of them, 108 advanced, 226 declined and 53 remained unchanged.

Turnover on the DSE stood at around Tk 403.50 crore, down from Tk 410.57 crore in the previous session, a decrease of Tk 7.07 crore.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also recorded a decline in trading activity. Turnover in shares and units fell to Tk 14.72 crore on Tuesday from Tk 16.42 crore a day earlier.

A total of 168 securities traded on the CSE, with 52 advancing, 92 declining and 24 remaining unchanged.

The CSE’s overall CASPI index dropped 69.03 points to 14,489.61, following a decline of 22.77 points in the previous session.

Market participants warned that continued declines and the absence of effective measures to restore stability could further frustrate investors and intensify pressure on the regulatory authorities to take decisive action.