Stocks
Police Detained 3 on Ponzi Scheme Allegedly Linked to Investment Organization
Several organizations have been found involved in fraudulent activities in the stock market, targeting investors by falsely listing companies and engaging in fraudulent practices. They instill fear in various companies by falsely listing them through investor organizations, and subsequently, through legal notices, threaten to retaliate against companies planning initial public offerings (IPOs). The leaders of these organizations then demand bribes. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) investigation has uncovered such information.
Friday night saw raids in multiple areas of the capital based on intelligence, leading to the arrest of three members of a cartel involved in market manipulation and spreading rumors. Additional Commissioner (Detective) of Police Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid confirmed this information at a press conference held on Saturday (April 27) afternoon.
The share market, where investors are targeted by various organizations, includes the Bangladesh Investors’ Unity Council, the Bangladesh Investors’ National Foundation, the ICB Investor Foundation, the Chittagong Investors’ Forum, and others. Allegations have surfaced that these organizations, through a few individuals, engage in fraud under the guise of ordinary investors, despite having no affiliation with them.
It has been revealed that various companies are targeted for extortion by instilling fear through investor organizations. Among them, if allegations are made against the chairman of BSEC, their IPO will be canceled, they will be defamed, and the media will publish negative news about them, creating fear. Additionally, a legal notice team has been formed. Initial legal notices are sent to companies planning IPOs, followed by demands for bribes threatening to tarnish the names of these organizations.
The arrested individuals are Md. Amir Hossain alias Nurnurani (37), Nurul Haque Harun (52), and Abdul Kaiyum (39).
Chief of DB Harun-or Rashid said in a press conference that three members of a cartel involved in market manipulation and spreading rumors have been arrested based on intelligence obtained through online and social media platforms. They listed various shares in the stock market and engaged in fraudulent activities. Their aim was to destabilize the country’s stock market through various means. Everyone needs to be vigilant about these organizations. If anyone engages in extortion, they will face legal consequences, he advised.
He said, “The stock market is a sensitive place, intricately linked with the country’s economy. Many ordinary investors invest their savings here. There is a high risk of suffering losses here. A selfish cartel has been trying for a long time to destroy the stock market and the country’s economy. They are spreading various false, misleading, and intimidating information through secret groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram to harass ordinary investors for their own interests. They are creating volatile situations under the guise of protests using ordinary investors. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has filed a case at Ramna Model Police Station against various important figures, including the Chairman of the Commission, for providing false and misleading information through Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups, causing financial losses to ordinary investors.”
The arrested individuals spread false and misleading information in various Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups to increase the price of various shares and sell them at high prices to ordinary investors and use secret WhatsApp/Telegram groups for this purpose. Members of these groups have to pay a specified fee to join. In case of profit, they do not share the profit.
According to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, it is illegal to provide information about any share price. Amir Hossain alias Nur Nurani (pretending to be Nurul Haque Harun) has 11 cases under the Explosive Substances Act and Special Powers Act. Nurul Haque Harun, a member of the Bangladesh Investors’ Unity Council, colluded with various members of the organization to extort companies.
Additionally, Abdul Kaiyum is associated with Royal Capital Brokerage House. He provides information about various shares in WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
The arrested individuals spread false and misleading information to increase the price of various shares and sell them at high prices to ordinary investors, using Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups. They create volatile situations using ordinary investors under the guise of protests. They list various companies in the stock market and extort them for various issues. They start online propaganda if they don’t get extortion money. They even attack company offices.
The arrested individuals spread false and misleading information about various shares in the stock market to increase their prices and sell them at high prices to ordinary investors. They use secret WhatsApp/Telegram groups for this purpose. Members of these groups have to pay a specified fee to join. In case of profit, they do not share the profit.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Cyber and Special Crime Division has always been working to protect the interests of ordinary investors. Regular monitoring and cyber patrols are being conducted online. Campaigns are ongoing to prevent anyone from benefiting from creating volatile situations in the stock market, causing fear to ordinary investors.
One of the listed companies, Provati Insurance Company Limited discloses its financial reports for the first quarter, (January – March 24).
The company’s earnings per share (EPS) was Tk 0.55 paisa in Q1 of the current financial year (January – March 24). EPS was Tk 0.73 (restated) paisa during the same period last year. As of March 31, 2024, at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, the company’s net asset value (NAV) per share stood at Tk 21.56.
One of the listed companies, Delta Life Insurance Company Limited, discloses its financial reports for the first quarter, second quarter. This source is known from DSE.
Q1: The company’s consolidated life revenue account for January to March 2022 shows significant growth and increased activity in its life insurance segment.
As of March 31, 2022, the balance of the Life Insurance Fund stood at 39,447.09 million taka. This marks an increase from 38,669.99 million taka recorded on March 31, 2021, resulting in a net growth of 777.10 million taka over the year.
The company also reported a substantial rise in net premium income for the first quarter of 2022. Net premiums collected from January to March 2022 amounted to 1,534.55 million taka, compared to 1,277.77 million taka during the same period in 2021.
However, the company experienced a rise in total expenses for the first quarter of 2022. Expenses reached 2,624.33 million taka, up from 2,137.90 million taka during the same period in 2021.
Q2: According to the company’s consolidated life revenue account for the half year ending June 30, 2022, the Life Insurance Fund grew significantly. The balance of the fund was 39,757.84 million taka as of June 30, 2022, compared to 38,752.46 million taka on March 31, 2021, resulting in a net increase of 1,005.38 million taka.
Net premiums collected from April to June 2022 were 2,042.16 million taka, up from 1,549.95 million taka during the same period in 2021, showing a healthy increase in premium income.
Total expenses for April to June 2022 were 2,523.06 million taka, compared to 2,282.25 million taka during the same period in 2021. This rise in expenses reflects the company’s expanded operations and investments.
Q3: According to the company’s consolidated life revenue account for the third quarter ending September 30, 2022, the Life Insurance Fund showed significant growth. The balance was 39,908.687 million taka as of September 30, 2022, compared to 38,745.166 million taka on September 30, 2021, marking a net increase of 1,163.521 million taka.
Net premiums collected during July-September 2022 were 1,751.352 million taka, up from 1,665.650 million taka in the same period in 2021, indicating an increase in premium income.
Total expenses for July-September 2022 were 2,289.415 million taka, down from 2,493.825 million taka during the same period in 2021. This decrease in expenses reflects improved cost management.
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the first working day of the week, 19th May, ended with a drop in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
409 crore 18 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 267 crore 60 lakh less tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 16th May , Shares worth Tk 676 crores 79 lakh shares were traded last time, Thursday
The benchmark DSEX lost 86.13 points or 5,431 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 20.52 points or 1,191, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 25.55 points or 1,948.
Of the issues traded, 22 advanced, 347 declined and 19 remained unchanged.
Shepherd Industries PLC ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 1.30 paisa or 9.35 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 15.20 paisa.
Desh General Insurance Company Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 0.90 paisa or 3.00 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 29.10 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Beach Hatchery Limited 18 crore 94 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 53 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 1 crore 32 lakh 72 thousand 812 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 41 crore 57 lakh taka
