By Mizan RahmanDhakaA freefall in Bangladesh’s twin bourses - Dhaka and Chittagong - yesterday sparked massive protests in the two cities.The aggrieved small investors scuffled with security personnel, locked the entry point of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Madhumita Bhaban, set objects like tyres on fire during the nearly five-hour protest in front of the DSE building.The protesters blocked roads in the downtown area disrupting vehicular movement and causing huge traffic jam in the surrounding areas.The investors demanded suspension of trading until fresh steps are taken to restore their confidence and bring back normalcy to the market.Talking to newsmen yesterday, Bangladesh Capital Market Investors Unity Council secretary Ataullah Nayeem said they would resume their protest today.“Our demand is to keep trading suspended until the authorities come up with any positive decision that can restore our confidence and can stabilise the market,” he said.Trading resumed yesterday at both the bourses after a day’s recess. The DSE benchmark index, DGEN, lost 168.72 points or 3.46%, and closed at 4695.57. The CSE key index, CSCX, shed 266.66 points yetserday.Earlier in the morning, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) arranged a hurried press briefing in an attempt to clear confusion over investment in the stock market by government officials and employees.SEC chief M Khairul Hossain said that the cabinet did not take any new decision in this regard.“It has been known through discussions with the authorities concerned that the there had been no decision (at the cabinet meeting) on barring public servants from investing in stocks,” he said.