Chaos on the Trading Floor: The Secret War Sabotaging Bangladesh’s Stock Exchanges

An alarming crisis appears to be brewing in Bangladesh’s capital market, as reports surface of an alleged nexus between influential brokers, senior exchange officials, and a powerful intelligence network accused of attempting to destabilize the economy. Sources and internal documents obtained by investigative reporters suggest that a group tied to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), and certain political and business circles has been conspiring to derail the market’s recent recovery by manipulating stock prices and spreading fear among investors. The ultimate objective, according to these reports, is to undermine public confidence and damage the nation’s economic stability.

Insiders allege that this network has engaged in a coordinated campaign of economic sabotage through market manipulation. Tactics reportedly include large-scale share dumping, misuse of regulatory authority, and coercive penalties against brokerage firms. These actions, conducted under the guise of official procedures, are said to have triggered panic among retail investors, wiping out gains from the capital market’s fragile recovery. Despite efforts by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to restore investor trust and create a stable economic environment, a powerful syndicate allegedly seeks to obstruct this progress by destabilizing the market’s structure from within.

At the center of the controversy is Abdur Rauf, Chief Operating Officer of Premier Bank Securities Limited, who has emerged as a key suspect in what some describe as a “stock market mafia.” Rauf, a close associate of former Premier Bank Chairman and ex-MP Dr. H.B.M. Iqbal, is accused of possessing undisclosed assets worth hundreds of crores of Taka, including luxury vehicles, multiple properties in Dhaka, and large fixed deposits. Intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly have active files and even a pending arrest warrant against him. His office in Banani is believed to serve as the coordination point for illicit financial operations connecting several brokers and financiers. Other names linked to the network include Beximco’s Zaman, Rana of First Security Merchant Bank, and Rajib from United Securities—all accused of manipulating stock prices for massive personal profit.

Analysts claim that this alleged “mafia board” within the DSE and CSE operates under the pretext of regulation but in reality engages in extortion, insider trading, and money laundering. The network is said to exploit its influence over enforcement departments to impose arbitrary fines on targeted brokerage houses, driving smaller firms toward financial ruin. Through these tactics, the group allegedly maintains control over market movements, ensuring that prices can be artificially inflated or depressed at will. The pattern, experts argue, mirrors previous episodes of stock market crises in Bangladesh, where a few well-connected individuals reaped enormous profits at the expense of thousands of ordinary investors.

The situation has left retail investors anxious and disillusioned, as confidence in the market continues to erode. Economic experts warn that unless these allegations are thoroughly investigated and the culprits held accountable, the crisis could inflict long-term damage on Bangladesh’s financial system and global reputation. For a country striving to rebuild economic stability and investor faith under new leadership, the emergence of such a powerful clandestine network poses a grave threat. The unfolding “silent war” in Bangladesh’s stock market may thus represent more than financial misconduct, it may be a deliberate attempt to weaken the nation’s economic foundations from within.