United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Bank has settled US$1.61 billion in import payments to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for September and October 2025, keeping the country's foreign exchange reserves above the $31-billion mark. Following Sunday’s (9th November 2025) payment, the gross foreign exchange reserves now stand at $31.14 billion, higher than September’s $30.31 billion recorded after a similar $1.5 billion ACU payment. Based on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) methodology, the reserve currently amounts to $26.44 billion, up from $25.40 billion in September. RCBC requested to forfeit $81m over Bangladesh Bank reserve heist Before the latest ACU settlement, the gross reserve was $32.71 billion, while the BPM6 figure stood at $28 billion. The central bank has been publishing reserve figures under the IMF’s BPM6 system since June 2023, in line with the IMF loan conditions. At that time, the reserve was $24.75 billion. Last week’s reserve figure of $32.71 billion was reportedly the highest in the past 32 months. The ACU (Asian Clearing Union) is a regional payment mechanism that facilitates trade settlements among member countries every two months. Its current members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, a former member, withdrew amid its economic crisis and has yet to rejoin despite signs of recovery. Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves had peaked at $48 billion in August 2021 but later declined steadily, dropping to around $16 billion during the final days of the previous Awami League government. BB reserve heist review committee’s tenure extended for 3rd time Since the government transition, tighter measures against money laundering have reduced hundi (illegal money transfer) operations, contributing to higher formal remittance inflows. Remittances reached $10.90 billion from the start of the current fiscal year to November 8, representing a 14 percent rise compared to the same period a year earlier.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves continued to fall with the usable reserves standing now at USD $ 15.82 billion as per IMF guideline, according to banking sources familiar with the development on Tuesday (November 28, 2023). During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, the reserves had soared to $48 billion, thanks to greater inflow of remittances amid reduced import demand. The reserves started decreasing since the eased import restrictions and impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. Also read: Forex reserves below $20 billion after paying ACU The latest foreign exchange report of Bangladesh Bank (BB) revealed that the country's reserves on 23 November stood at $19.52 billion based on the IMF formula (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual) or BPM6. As per the formula, the net reserves will be $3.7 billion less than the total reserve amount, the BB sources said. The BB spokesperson Mezbaul Haque in this regard told UNB that foreign exchange from reserves is spent and deposited every day. Also read: IMF relaxes forex reserve and revenue targets for $4.70 billion loan It is a continuous process of a country, he said advising common people not to panic at the news of decreasing foreign exchange. In July, Bangladesh started calculating its foreign reserves according to a formula suggested by the International Monetary Fund – BPM6. Following the new calculation, Bangladesh's gross foreign exchange reserves that time dropped by $26.44bn to $23.56bn. Also read: Bangladesh stands on the edge of deep ditch before the polls: Dr Debapriya

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves on Tuesday declined to USD $39.77 billion or below 40 billion mark for the first time in two years, according to updated data of the central bank. The drop has been attributed to Bangladesh Bank’s import payments of $1.99 billion last week to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are members of ACU. The central banks of these countries have to make the payments every two months. Read: BB tightens belt on forex reserve, bans import credit on luxury items The reserves have been under stress for the past couple of months due to surge in the import bills and drop in the inward remittance.  Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves soared to record amount of $46.15 billion in December last year. Bangladesh’s forex reserves witnessed a fall as import volume in the fiscal year 2021-22 increased to about $78 billion, while foreign exchange gained from remittance and export stood at $73 billion. The export earnings in FY 22 amounted to 52.08 billion and inward remittances $21.03 billion. Read Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul The inward remittance shows a fall in the FY22 to $21.03 billion from $ 24.77 billion in the FY 21. Md. Serajul Islam, executive director and spokesperson of BB told UNB that the central bank is selling US dollar to meet huge import payments in every day. He said fall in inward remittance and rising demand of imports are the reasons for the fall in the foreign exchange reserves. Read Amid volatile forex market, BB devalues currency by Tk1.60