Bangladesh, Sept. 12 -- Stocks suffered a major setback this week, with the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) falling below the 5,600-point threshold amid growing concerns over the country's prolonged energy crisis.

Advertisement Market operators said persistent shortages of gas and electricity continued to weigh on investor sentiment as factory shutdowns, production disruptions and growing dependence 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, while some factories have been forced to scale back production or rely more heavily on expensive alternative sources of en...