Dhaka Stocks Jump to 18-Month High on Post-Election Optimism

Stocks in Bangladesh surged to their highest level in 18 months on Sunday, as investors welcomed the opposition’s landslide election victory and the prospect of a new government.

The benchmark index at the Dhaka Stock Exchange posted its biggest single-day gain in nearly a year and a half. The DSEX index closed up 200 points, or 3.7%, at 5,600.65.

It was the largest one-day rise since Aug. 6, 2024, when the market jumped 197 points following the fall of the Awami League-led government, according to bdnews24.com.

The rally gained momentum after the Feb. 12 parliamentary election, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led alliance won 212 seats and is set to form a government on Tuesday.

The index had already risen 82 points in the final session before the vote. When trading resumed after the election, gains accelerated, with the market up nearly 200 points by midday before closing higher.

Turnover surged to Tk 12.72 billion, close to a record and just below the Tk 12.78 billion traded on Sept. 9, 2025.

Advancing stocks heavily outnumbered decliners. Of the 394 issues traded, 364 rose, 26 fell, and four were unchanged.

Banking stocks led activity, accounting for 26.35% of total turnover, or Tk 3.33 billion. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals followed with Tk 1.77 billion in trades, while textiles recorded Tk 1.55 billion.

One Bank hit its 10% upper circuit breaker limit, closing at Tk 8.80. Munno Fabrics climbed 9.85% to Tk 24.50, one of the strongest performances of the day.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC was the top decliner, falling nearly 5%.