Gross reserves, which represent the total stockpile of foreign currency holdings, are widely regarded as a key indicator of a nation's economic resilience.
Alongside this figure, the central bank also tracks reserves under the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments Manual 6 (BPM6) framework. This more conservative method, which excludes non-liquid assets, places the reserves at $20.9 billion.
The rise in reserves comes just ahead of Eid, with officials noting that the $25 billion mark has been crossed, reinforcing market confidence.
Bangladesh Bank also maintains a net reserve figure—calculated by subtracting short-term foreign liabilities from the gross reserve. This measure, recently reported to have surpassed $15 billion, is particularly significant under the terms of the ongoing $4.7 billion IMF loan programme.
The IMF recently commended Bangladesh for meeting a key benchmark, with net reserves crossing the $16 billion threshold—an essential condition for unlocking the next loan tranche. Central bank sources indicate that this level could be sustained through June, potentially enabling the release of two loan installments simultaneously.
Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, emphasized that the central bank uses multiple reserve calculation methods—gross, BPM6-based, and net—to ensure transparent internal monitoring and meet international reporting standards.