Dhaka, Jan. 1 -- Bangladesh's stock markets started the first trading day of 2026 on a bullish note as indices rose on both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses on Thursday, with most listed companies posting gains.

At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index advanced by 45 points. The Shariah-based DSES gained 5 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index climbed 15 points.

Share prices increased for a majority of companies, as 263 issues advanced against 66 decliners, while prices of 62 issues remained unchanged.

The turnover also improved, with shares and units worth Tk 368 crore changing hands during the session, compared to Tk 354 crore in the previous trading day.

In the block market, shares of 15 companies worth Tk 19 cr...