The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) announced plans to disburse compensation totaling Tk 72 crore to 17,332 investors affected by embezzlement at five brokerage firms. The payments, capped at Tk 5 lakh per investor, will begin on September 28, according to DSE Chairman Mominul Islam, who spoke at a press conference at the exchange’s Nikunja office in Dhaka.

The brokerage houses involved in the scandal are Moshihor Securities, Banco Securities, Crest Securities, Tamha Securities, and Shah Mohammad Sagir & Company Ltd. A total of 17,925 investors filed claims amounting to over Tk 250 crore. Of these, nearly 97 percent will receive full compensation from the DSE’s Investors Protection Fund (IPF).

Prior to this payout, affected investors had already received Tk 37.60 crore through a combined effort of the IPF and the brokerage firms. Additional payments to remaining claimants are planned through asset sales of the defaulting brokerage houses alongside continued support from the IPF.

Chairman Islam described the compensation effort as a significant milestone for Bangladesh’s capital market, emphasizing its role in rebuilding confidence among retail investors. The IPF was established by the DSE to safeguard investors impacted by brokerage defaults or operational failures, funded by contributions from brokerage firms themselves.

Meanwhile, the investigation into alleged fund embezzlement at Salta Capital is ongoing. DSE Managing Director Nuzhat Anwar confirmed that authorities have yet to conclude the inquiry.

Regulatory bodies, including the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and the DSE, are implementing enhanced measures to curb similar breaches in the future. New technological safeguards have been introduced to prevent misappropriation from consolidated customer accounts, aiming to strengthen oversight across the brokerage sector.