Bangladesh, Sept. 13 -- Stocks opened lower on Sunday, with the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) falling below the 5,500-point threshold in early trading as risk-averse investors continued selling amid persistent concerns over the country's worsening energy crisis.

Market operators said prolonged shortages of gas and electricity were weighing heavily on investor sentiment, as factory shutdowns, production disruptions and increased reliance on costly alternative energy sources raised concerns over industrial output and corporate profitability.

The worsening energy situation has already disrupted operations at a number of industrial units. Some factories have been forced to scale back production, while others are increasingly r...