Business Report:
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have currently stood at US$30.08 billion, as reported by the Bangladesh Bank (BB). However, when calculated under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6), the reserve figure is significantly lower – standing at $25.06 billion.
Previously, reserves were reported in gross terms – often exceeding $40 billion – which included less liquid assets. However, as import pressures mounted and the local currency weakened against the US dollar, the IMF stressed the need for a more realistic assessment of reserve adequacy. Since then, the central bank has faced the dual challenge of maintaining a healthy reserve buffer while supporting the taka and covering essential import bills.
