Forex reserves rise to $30.59 billion

FE REPORT
The country's foreign exchange reserves rose further on Sunday, reaching US$30.59 billion, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
Measured under the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6), the reserves stood at $25.75 billion, the central bank said.
Just three days earlier, on Thursday, reserves were reported at $30.57 billion in gross terms and $25.67 billion under the BPM6 standard.
Officials familiar with the development told The Financial Express that the upward trend in reserves was largely driven by robust export earnings and steady remittance inflows.
In July 2025, exports surged by more than 27 per cent year-on-year to $4.43 billion, while remittance inflows totalled $6.27 billion during the first two months of the fiscal year (July-August 2025-26).
At the same time, imports have also been rising. Import payments in July 2025 were $6.27 billion, reflecting an increase of 19.49 per cent compared with the same month a year earlier.
Officials noted that while the reserve position is improving, it remains vulnerable to external shocks.
"Higher export growth is a positive sign, but the rising import bill and upcoming external debt repayments could limit further reserve accumulation," said a senior central banker.
Another analyst said that while remittances provide a strong buffer, the sustainability of the current trend will depend on global oil prices, policy stability, and foreign investor confidence.
Bangladesh Bank officials added that they are monitoring the reserve levels closely to ensure adequate coverage of import payments, which typically require at least three to four months' worth of reserves to maintain stability.
Meanwhile, the exchange rate between the US dollar and Taka eased to 121.75 in the inter-bank market following stability in the forex market.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com