Dhaka Stock Exchange
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBangladesh's principal stock exchange and a central marketplace for trading listed securities.
Last updated November 1, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) is one of Bangladesh's two stock exchanges and the country's principal public marketplace for listed securities. It is headquartered in the Nikunja 2 area of Dhaka, near Hotel Le Méridien, and operates alongside the Chittagong Stock Exchange. The exchange provides the infrastructure through which listed shares and other securities can be quoted and traded under Bangladesh's securities-market framework. The institution was incorporated in 1954 as the East Pakistan Stock Exchange Association Ltd. Formal trading began in 1956. Its corporate identity changed several times as the political and constitutional status of the territory evolved: it became East Pakistan Stock Exchange Ltd in 1962 and Dacca Stock Exchange Ltd in 1964. Trading was interrupted for approximately five years after Bangladesh's 1971 independence, before activity restarted in 1976. The exchange was subsequently relaunched as the Dhaka Stock Exchange on 16 September 1986. DSE's modernization has included changes to its market-index methodology, the introduction of automated trading, and the establishment of central securities-depository infrastructure. Its index-calculation formula was revised in 1993 in line with an International Finance Corporation-related methodology. Automated trading was introduced in 1998 and became operational from January 2001. A central securities depository system was initiated in 2004, supporting more systematic electronic settlement and ownership records. The exchange's principal market indicators include the DSE Broad Index (DSEX), the DSE Shariah Index (DSES), the DS30 index, and the CDSET index. DSE's role extends beyond order matching: listing gives qualifying securities access to a regulated public market, while the exchange's rules are intended to support transparency, equal treatment, competitive transactions, and the dissemination of market information. Trading normally takes place Sunday through Thursday, with hours adjusted during Ramadan and on officially declared market holidays. DSE is organized as a public limited company and operates within Bangladesh's company and securities-law framework, including legislation and regulations administered by the country's securities regulator. Historically, its governance model included a board with representation from exchange members and from trade, professional, financial, and academic institutions. The exchange has also maintained a membership-based structure in which authorized members participate in trading for themselves or their clients. The exchange has experienced both rapid growth and severe volatility. Its benchmark index passed 4,000 points in 2009 and exceeded 8,500 points in 2010 before a sharp reversal in late 2010 and early 2011. The collapse caused substantial losses for retail investors and became associated with the 2011 Bangladesh share-market scandal, in which allegations of manipulation and regulatory failure were widely discussed. The episode remains a defining event in the modern history of Bangladesh's capital market. In January 2023, DSE and Nasdaq announced a partnership concerning trading technology. More recent descriptions of the market have highlighted weak initial-public-offering activity, governance concerns, and a reluctance among some family-owned businesses to list. These conditions have contributed to a relatively stagnant relationship between market capitalization and Bangladesh's gross domestic product. Despite these constraints, DSE remains an active national institution and a key channel for equity-market financing, price discovery, and investment in Bangladesh.
History
The Dhaka Stock Exchange traces its institutional origin to the East Pakistan Stock Exchange Association Ltd, incorporated on 28 April 1954. Formal trading began in 1956, establishing an organized securities market in what was then East Pakistan. The organization adopted the name East Pakistan Stock Exchange Ltd on 23 June 1962 and was renamed Dacca Stock Exchange Ltd on 13 May 1964. The political transition surrounding Bangladesh's independence disrupted exchange activity. Trading was discontinued for approximately five years after 1971 and resumed in 1976. The institution later re-emerged under the name Dhaka Stock Exchange on 16 September 1986, becoming a central component of Bangladesh's developing capital-market system. A significant modernization phase followed. In 1993, the formula used to calculate the exchange's all-share price index was changed in accordance with an International Finance Corporation-related approach. Automated trading was introduced on 10 August 1998 and began operating from 1 January 2001. The creation of a central securities depository system on 24 January 2004 improved the infrastructure for recording and settling securities ownership. The exchange expanded rapidly during the 2000s. Its benchmark index crossed 4,000 points in November 2009, reaching a reported high of 4,148 points. In 2010, the index rose above 8,500 points. The expansion was followed by a dramatic reversal beginning in late 2010. The exchange lost roughly 1,800 points between December 2010 and January 2011, and the resulting collapse caused extensive losses among retail investors. Public anger produced demonstrations and widespread accusations that market manipulation and inadequate oversight had contributed to the bubble. The episode became known as the 2011 Bangladesh share-market scam. DSE is a public limited company operating under Bangladesh's company and securities legislation. Its institutional framework has included the Companies Act 1994, the Securities and Exchange Commission Act 1993, securities-commission regulations issued in 1994, and insider-trading regulations. Historically, the exchange's issued capital was divided into a limited number of membership shares, with restrictions on individual or firm ownership. Exchange members were authorized to participate on the trading floor and to transact for themselves or their clients. Governance has traditionally involved a board combining elected exchange-member representatives with nominees from relevant business, professional, financial, and academic bodies. Reference material describes a 25-member structure in which 12 directors were elected by DSE members, 12 were selected from trade and related institutions, and the chief executive officer served as the twenty-fifth ex officio member. The named institutional representation included Bangladesh Bank, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh, professional accountancy and business chambers, and finance academics. The exact composition and governance arrangements may change over time. DSE offers a regulated venue for listed securities and publishes several market indices, including DSEX, DSES, DS30, and CDSET. Its trading schedule generally runs from Sunday to Thursday, with regular hours of 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bangladesh Standard Time and shorter hours during Ramadan, subject to holidays declared by the exchange. In January 2023, DSE announced a trading-technology partnership with Nasdaq. The initiative followed earlier automation and depository upgrades and reflected the exchange's continuing effort to strengthen its market infrastructure. At the same time, the market has faced limited new-listing activity, governance challenges, and hesitation among some family-controlled companies about entering a more scrutinized public market. Reference material reports that no companies were approved for initial public offerings in 2024 and that market capitalization had stagnated at approximately one-fifth of national GDP. DSE nevertheless remains one of Bangladesh's two stock exchanges and the country's leading venue for organized equity trading.
- 2023
Nasdaq technology partnership announced
[1]DSE and Nasdaq announced a partnership involving trading technology.
- 2011
Share-market crash
[1]The exchange suffered a major collapse that caused extensive investor losses and became associated with the 2011 Bangladesh share-market scam.
- 2010
Index exceeds 8,500 points
[1]The benchmark index passed 8,500 points before the market entered a severe correction.
- 2009
Benchmark index crosses 4,000 points
[1]The DSE benchmark index exceeded 4,000 points and reportedly reached 4,148 points in November.
- 2004
Central securities depository initiated
[1]A central securities depository system was initiated on 24 January.
- 2001
Automated trading becomes operational
[1]The automated trading system began operating on 1 January.
- 1998
Automated trading introduced
[1]The exchange introduced automated trading on 10 August.
- 1993
Index methodology revised
[1]The calculation formula for the DSE all-share price index was changed in line with an International Finance Corporation-related methodology.
- 1986
Dhaka Stock Exchange relaunched
[1]The exchange was established under the Dhaka Stock Exchange name on 16 September.
- 1976
Trading resumes
[1]Trading activity restarted in Bangladesh after the post-independence interruption.
Products and positioning
National stock exchange and primary public equity marketplace of Bangladesh
Stock exchange services · 1956
Listed equity market
DSE provides the organized marketplace in which eligible listed companies' shares can be quoted and traded. Listing gives issuers access to public investors and creates a framework for market disclosure, competitive transactions, and price discovery. Investors generally access the market through exchange members and authorized intermediaries rather than trading directly as members.
Market index
DSE Broad Index (DSEX)
DSEX is the exchange's broad benchmark index. It is used to represent overall movement in the DSE equity market and serves as a principal reference point for investors, analysts, issuers, and financial media.
Market index
DSE Shariah Index (DSES)
DSES is the exchange's Shariah-oriented index. It provides a market-performance reference for securities that meet the relevant screening approach and offers an index-level view for investors seeking Shariah-compliant exposure.
Market index
DS30 Index
DS30 is one of DSE's principal named indices and is intended to track a selected group of leading securities on the exchange. It is used as a focused market indicator alongside the broader DSEX.
Market index
CDSET Index
CDSET is an additional DSE market index used to communicate market performance through a defined index series. Public reference material identifies it as one of the exchange's principal trading indices.
Trading technology · 1998
Automated trading system
DSE's automated trading capability replaced reliance on purely manual exchange-floor processes and enabled electronic handling of orders and transactions. It was introduced in 1998 and became operational in 2001, forming a foundation for subsequent technology upgrades.
Controversies
2021
DSE files case against Banco Securities
In June 2021, the Dhaka Stock Exchange filed a case against Banco Securities following the discovery of a shortfall in the firm's consolidated customers' account. According to the reported event, the shortfall amounted to Tk 60 crore. The case was filed by the exchange after the discrepancy in the consolidated customers' account came to light. The available information identifies the parties as the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Banco Securities, states the amount of the shortfall, and describes the exchange's action of filing a case. No further details on the proceedings, their outcome, or additional allegations are included in the source material.
2011
Bangladesh share-market scam and crash
A sharp market collapse followed the rapid rise of the DSE index in 2010. The exchange lost approximately 1,800 points between December 2010 and January 2011, leaving many investors with severe losses. Public criticism focused on alleged artificial inflation, market manipulation by a limited group of participants, speculation, and failures by regulators and market institutions to contain the bubble.
Brand decisions
2023
Trading-technology partnership with NasdaqStrategyBackground
DSE continued to pursue technology modernization after earlier automation and depository-system upgrades.
Action taken
DSE and Nasdaq announced a partnership concerning trading technology.
Aftermath
The partnership positioned Nasdaq technology as part of DSE's continuing effort to improve exchange infrastructure, although the supplied sources do not specify implementation results.
2004
Central securities depository implementationStrategyBackground
The growing market required more systematic records of securities ownership and settlement.
Action taken
DSE initiated a central securities depository system on 24 January 2004.
Aftermath
The depository infrastructure strengthened electronic settlement and post-trade administration.
1998
Introduction of automated tradingStrategyBackground
Modernization of order handling and transaction processing was necessary as Bangladesh's securities market developed.
Action taken
DSE introduced automated trading on 10 August 1998, with the system becoming operational in January 2001.
Aftermath
Electronic trading became a core part of DSE's market infrastructure and later supported further technology partnerships.
1993
Revision of all-share index methodologyStrategyBackground
The exchange needed an index methodology aligned with developing international market-practice standards.
Action taken
DSE changed the formula used to calculate its all-share price index in accordance with an International Finance Corporation-related approach.
Aftermath
The revised methodology became part of the exchange's effort to modernize market measurement and reporting.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/dhaka-stock-exchange · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled