Forex reserve shoots past $ 21b

The central bank’s foreign currency reserve has crossed $ 21 billion, setting a new record. Bangladesh Bank (BB) Forex Reserve and Treasury Management Division’s General Manager Kazi Saidur Rahman said the reserve was $ 21.03 billion at the end of Monday. He said the reserve was boosted by a spurt in remittance flow and decline in import costs. The remittance flow has already reached $ 60 billion this month, and expatriates are likely to send more money home ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr. On April 10, the reserves first went above the $ 20 billion mark. After paying a $1.17 billion import bill to Asian Clearing Union on May 8, the reserves were down to $ 19.4 billion but has steadily risen since. According to BB records, the last high, on May 6, was $ 20.57 billion, according to bdnews24.com.