DSE brokers' assoc call for listing CDBL on stock exchanges

Highlights
- CDBL net profit rose 12% to Tk59.88cr
- Its retained earnings stood at Tk46.12cr
- Current paid-up capital of Tk200cr
- EPS increased by 11.99% to Tk2.99
The DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) has urged Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, the special assistant to the chief adviser and chairman of the Capital Market Development Committee, to take necessary steps to list Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) on the stock exchanges.
In a letter submitted on 26 May, DBA President Saiful Islam highlighted that despite being established in 2000 with support from the Asian Development Bank and funding from major financial institutions, CDBL remains unlisted even after 25 years. This undermines its founding mandate to modernise the market, operate without profit motives, and expand public ownership through listing.
The DBA emphasised that CDBL, which earns significant revenue from capital market participants, should now be listed to align with its founding purpose, enhance market transparency, and ensure profit-sharing with stakeholders.
CDBL was established on 20 August 2000 with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It was sponsored by a consortium of nationalised and private commercial banks, foreign and merchant banks, publicly listed companies, insurance firms, and the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges.
Its operations are governed by the Depositories Act 1999, related regulations, and CDBL by-laws.
CDBL provides core depository services including the electronic settlement, delivery, and transfer of securities through a book-entry system — enabling secure and efficient ownership changes without the need for physical certificates.
In the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24), the company reported an operating profit of Tk23.79 crore, which is a decline from Tk33.43 crore in the previous fiscal year.
However, the company's other income rose to Tk61.14 crore in FY24, up from Tk47 crore in FY23.
As a result, the profit after tax increased by 12.06% to Tk59.88 crore in FY24, compared to Tk53.43 crore in the previous year.
The company's earnings per share (EPS) also improved to Tk2.99, up from Tk2.67 a year earlier. Its net asset value (NAV) per share stood at Tk40.31 at the end of June 2024.