The government on Tuesday made an announcement for sale of its 119,857 shares of IFIC Bank at the stock markets within 30 days, said officials.

‘The government today has reported the bourse its intention to sell off 119,857 shares of the bank through the stock exchange at the prevailing market price,’ said Salahuddin Ahmed Khan, chief executive officer of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

The price of IFIC Bank share gained 0.78 per cent to close at Tk 2512.50 on Tuesday at the DSE.

The government, under the post of finance division secretary as one of the corporate sponsors/directors of the IFIC Bank, holds total 14,03,479 shares of the bank, said Salahuddin.

Earlier on November 28, the government asked the authorities concerned to offload, within three weeks, the state-owned 119,857 shares of the IFIC Bank. The government owns 35pc share of the IFIC Bank. The government appointed the state-run ICB, as manager of the issues.

The stocks added value on Tuesday for the third consecutive trading day after a four-day bear run in last week. A DSE stock broker said stocks gained amid buying spree just a day ahead of the festival holidays from December 20 to 25 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha of the Muslims and the X-mass Day of the Christian community.

The DSE’s general index gained 24.92 points or 0.84 per cent to close at 2,990.50, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 22.51 points or 0.96 per cent to finish at 2,373.05.

The CSE’s selective categories index gained 20.04 points or 0.41 per cent to close at 4,852.73, while its blue chips index, CSE30, advanced by 40.87 points or 0.61per cent to finish at 6,713.67.