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The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has set a target of bringing at least 10 blue-chip companies to the capital market by 2027 as it seeks to restore investor confidence amid prolonged weakness, losses and a lack of quality new listings.
DSE Chairman Mominul Islam announced the target at a press conference on Tuesday, outlining a series of initiatives aimed at injecting fresh momentum into the market and strengthening investor protection.
He said the exchange plans to bring large government-owned, multinational and local companies to the market through direct listing or initial public offerings (IPOs).
“For more than two years, there has been no significant new IPO or listing. We are therefore focusing on bringing new and quality securities to the market,” he said.
The DSE chairman said a draft of new regulations for direct listings has already been prepared, while work is also under way to simplify the IPO process.
The revised IPO regulations may be published for public consultation within the next two to three weeks, he said.
The exchange is also planning incentives to encourage large companies to list. Companies applying for direct listing or IPO by March 2027 may receive a 50 per cent discount on listing fees, according to the DSE.
The exchange has also placed investor protection at the centre of its efforts to rebuild confidence.
The DSE said it will begin repaying up to Tk500,000 to affected investors of five defaulting brokerage houses from September 28.
Of the 17,925 affected investors, around 97 per cent are expected to receive their full investment under the initiative.
DSE Managing Director Nuzhat Anwar said protecting investors’ interests, alongside ensuring accountability and maintaining sound institutional structures, was fundamental to restoring confidence in the capital market.
The prolonged absence of quality new listings, losses suffered by investors and various irregularities have contributed to growing frustration and a crisis of confidence in the market, officials said.
The DSE also unveiled its new website at the end of the press conference. The new digital platform is expected to make capital-market information and services more accessible to investors and other stakeholders.
