Restoring investor confidence biggest challenge: DSE chairman

Restoring investor confidence remains the biggest challenge for Bangladesh's stock market, regardless of the reforms undertaken, said Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Chairman Mominul Islam.

"No matter what reforms are made in the stock market, restoring investor confidence remains the biggest challenge," he said at the inaugural ceremony of World Investor Week 2026 at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the capital today (4 October).

"There is no alternative to regaining investor confidence to overcome the situation created by past irregularities and inefficiencies," he added.

Mominul also said Bangladesh's stock market is currently at a crucial juncture, with the government working to develop the market and a professional and experienced commission at the helm. "At the same time, stock exchanges, central depositories, central counterparties and market intermediaries are working in a coordinated manner."

However, he stressed that restoring investor confidence should remain the primary objective.

"No matter what reforms we implement, bringing back investor confidence is imperative for those reforms to succeed," the DSE chairman said.

Warning against fraud and misleading information in the market, Mominul said various groups are being created on social media to spread misleading or partial information among investors.

Small retail investors, in particular, often fall for such inducements and suffer financial losses, he said.

He said preventing such activities should be a top priority for stock market stakeholders.

Mominul said the DSE's existing surveillance system monitors institutions directly involved in market transactions, intermediaries, their investors and issuers. However, he said the scope of surveillance needs to go beyond traditional mechanisms.

"We must take our surveillance beyond the conventional scope. We need to identify unwanted activities, prevent them and bring those involved to justice," he said.

The DSE chairman said the next step would be to integrate artificial intelligence into the exchange's surveillance system. "This would enable the monitoring of not only direct market transactions but also information circulated on social media and potential fraudulent activities."

He said the government's objective is to build a strong and transparent stock market and establish it as a key pillar of the economy.

Mominul expressed hope that the goal could be achieved if all stakeholders work together.