Gross reserves cross $30b mark after two years

Bangladesh enjoys a feel-good ambience on the foreign-exchange front now as steady inflows push its gross dollar-denominated reserves above US$30-billion mark after two years, latest official statistics show.

The country's gross foreign-exchange reserves crossed $30.5 billion following the release of fourth and fifth tranches of loans from the IMF's $4.7-billion lending package.

With the payout of $1.30 billion by the International Monetary Fund under its lending package meant for stabilising the country's macroeconomic situation, the stock of forex reserves got enhanced by around $5.0 billion within this month that marks the fag-end of the outgoing financial year.

Apart from the IMF drip-feeds, the country also received foreign currencies from its development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The payouts from the lenders add up to growing inflows of remittance along with steady export growth help a rebound in the reserves.

Such leaps in forex receipts give a much-needed respite to the economy that has been passing through multiple macroeconomic strains in recent times amid depletion of forex stock.

According to Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country's central bank, the gross forex reserves stood at $30.51 billion and $25.51 billion in BB and IMF's BPM6 calculations respectively as on June 26, 2025.

The reserves of foreign currencies have increased by around $5.0 billion from previous month's statistics when the figure was $25.80 billion and $20.54 billion in BB and IMF arithmetic respectively.

Seeking anonymity, a BB official says the country's forex reserves continued to grow to cross $30.50 billion on Thursday with the release of IMF's stalled loan tranches.

Despite the government having to make substantial payment in clearing accumulated external overdue bills in recent months, the central banker says, the forex reserves continued rising in an indication of steady rebound in foreign-exchange reserves.

Apart from the IMF, the BB official mentions, they have also received significant volume of foreign currencies from development partners like WB, ADB and JICA.

On the other hand, an upward trend in remittance inflow continues in recent weeks, which is bolstering the reserve size.

"In fact, this (the reserves) is the highest since June in 2023," says the central banker.

The BB reserve-related data showed that the gross reserves in BB calculations came to $31.20 billion while it was $ 24.75 billion in accordance with the BPM6 in June two years ago.

Remitters sent some $1.99 billion in the first 21 days of the month and the central bankers expect that the monthly count could go past $3.0 billion for the second time in the country's history.

Talking to the FE, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh Dr M Masrur Reaz said the boost in forex reserves gives an early but clear indication that the country's external sector like BoP is on track for quick recovery.

"And the increase comes at a crucial time when the economy embraces market-centric exchange rate, adopted six weeks ago. I think the reserve boost will help neutralise any unexpected sudden volatility on forex market," he said.

At the same time, the economist hopes, the robust growth in the stock of forex would further facilitate import normalisation from the compression regime.

Simultaneously, he thinks, it will send a positive signal to the foreign investors, corresponding banks and global rating agencies.

"But the BB needs to manage things prudently, taking lessons from the previous mistakes," the economist suggests.

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