The country’s capital share market experienced a severe blow on the final trading session of the week (Thursday), recording its highest single-day index plunge since the formation of the new regulatory commission. While everyday retail investors expressed widespread panic and frustration over the sharp downturn, institutional market players and experts have brushed off the panic, characterizing the movement as a routine and healthy market correction.
Broad-Based Decline Across the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)
Market analysis shows that out of all the companies and mutual funds traded on the premier bourse, a staggering 310 issues faced price declines, while only 59 managed to gain, and 20 remained unchanged.
Due to the overwhelming sell pressure across most counters:
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The DSE Benchmark Index (DSEX) tumbled sharply by 66 points, closing the session at 5,804 points.
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The Shariah-Based Index (DSES) dropped by 16 points to settle at 1,183 points.
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The Blue-Chip Index (DS30) retreated by 23 points, ending at 2,192 points.
Trading activity also slowed down notably on the floor. Total turnover on the DSE plummeted to Tk 938.88 crore, down from Tk 1,211 crore recorded during the previous trading session.
Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Follows Suit
A similar bearish trend swept through the port city’s share market. The overall CSE price index (CASPI) slipped by 158 points. Out of the 262 companies traded, 186 suffered price losses, 54 saw gains, and 22 remained untouched. Total turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 20.13 crore, showing a slight rise compared to the previous session’s Tk 16.86 crore.
“No Cause for Panic,” Says DBA President
Addressing investor anxiety, Saiful Islam, President of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA), reassured stakeholders that the recent downturn should not be misconstrued as a financial crisis.
“There are no underlying negative triggers significant enough to spark a major market collapse. Both the national political climate and the macroeconomic fundamentals are stable, with the economy steadily improving compared to previous periods,” Islam stated.
Emphasizing the context of the current administration’s tenure, he pointed out that both indices and trading volumes have generally maintained a positive trajectory since the government took charge. Consequently, he urged investors to view this sharp downward adjustment as standard mathematical calculation and routine market behavior rather than a reason for panic.
