A merger between the country’s two stock exchanges was not discussed at a meeting with the Financial Institutions Division on January 28.

Dhaka Stock Exchange chairman Mominul Islam told New Age that the letter he received, dated January 26, did not include any agenda related to a merger of the two bourses, and it was not discussed at the meeting.

Media reports published on Tuesday said that the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance would hold a meeting on Wednesday with regulators and stock exchanges to discuss a possible merger of the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges, citing a letter issued on January 22.

The reported agenda also mentioned the possible listing of Central Depository Bangladesh Limited on the stock market and making Central Counterparty Bangladesh Limited a subsidiary of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

The reports created confusion and concern among stockbrokers, many of whom became anxious about the possible impact on their ownership and business interests.

Mominul Islam said that the finance adviser could not attend the meeting due to illness and that Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, special assistant to the chief adviser, chaired the meeting.

According to Mominul, the meeting focused on technological upgrades at the Dhaka Stock Exchange and broader issues of capital market development.

He said the possible listing of Central Depository Bangladesh Limited was also discussed.

Officials said the meeting was attended by representatives from Bangladesh Bank, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges, Central Depository Bangladesh Limited, Central Counterparty Bangladesh Limited, and the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh.

A DSE stockbroker said that the government should act cautiously on sensitive market-related issues, as such issues can hurt investor confidence and create unnecessary anxiety among stakeholders.