The slogan-shouting protesters kept the busy road in Motijheel commercial hub blocked for around one and a half hours until 1:30pm. A huge contingent of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The DSE all share price index lost 232 points since the beginning of this month, which has sparked a panic among the general investors, sources said.

The market is witnessing a selling pressure as some 70 percent listed companies have already declared their dividend and other facilities for the year 2004.

"The small investors have lost around 35 percent of their investment during the last one month due to the selling pressure," President of Bangladesh Share Investors' Forum Selim Reza told The Daily Star after the protest.

He said the DSE authorities and the regulators have to keep vigil on the situation and keep the share market vibrant and attractive.

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suspended the Margin Rule 1999, at a meeting yesterday.

The suspension will allow the share brokers to provide credit to their clients, which will ultimately help improve the market situation, a DSE broker said.

When asked, DSE President Shahiq Khan admitted the worsening situation but hoped the market will improve soon due to the suspension of the margin rule.

"Majority of blue-chip shares were overpriced during the pre-dividend period and now the prices are declining," the DSE president said.

If the investors fail to make money in the upbeat market they have to face trouble during the post-dividend period, Shahiq Khan predicted.