Dhaka, March 8 -- The first day of trading of the week has seen a sharp drop in the main bourse at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

As of 1pm, the DSEX index had decreased by 187 points from the previous day to stand at 5,090 points.

Of the company shares traded on the DSE during this period, the prices of 16 have increased, those of 364 have declined, and nine have stayed the same.

The index had dropped for three consecutive days as of closing on Thursday. It had declined 82 points from the previous day to reach 5,240 points.

Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICU) Chairman Abu Ahmed noted that stocks had declined worldwide amid the conflict in the Middle East.

"The economy is not doing well because of the crisis in the Middle Eas...