BSEC to keep market open amid lockdown

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has decided to continue share trading on the Dhaka Stock Exchange amid a complete lockdown beginning from Wednesday.

BSEC spokesperson Mohammad Rezaul Karim confirmed the development on Saturday, a day after the government announced to go for a one-week complete lockdown from April 14.

However, the share trading will not be suspended if the banking activities continue even in the lockdown, he said.

Earlier, the government announced a one-week lockdown from April 5 to 11 to curb the rise in coronavirus infections. After that, the transaction time for commercial banks was fixed from 10 am to 12 noon.

In coordination with the central bank’s decision, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission shortened the trading hours to two from the usual four-and-a-half hours for the settlement of transition.

On Friday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said a ‘hard lockdown’ will be implemented in the country during which all government and private offices and factories will remain closed to control the spread of the Coronavirus.

Vehicles will not operate during the lockdown and people will be allowed to come out of their homes only in case of emergency. The decision has been taken as per the advice of the experts, said the minister.