Forex Reserves Stand at $27.35 Billion: BB

Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have reached $27.35 billion, according to a press release issued today by the Bangladesh Bank. This figure reflects the gross reserve level currently held by the central bank.

However, when calculated under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) methodology, the reserves stand at a lower figure of $21.97 billion. The discrepancy is due to differences in calculation standards—BPM6 excludes certain liabilities and encumbered assets, presenting a more conservative estimate of usable reserves.

The Bangladesh Bank emphasized that the gross reserve figure includes various components such as foreign currency deposits held by banks, central bank investments in foreign assets, and other liquid international assets. Meanwhile, the BPM6-aligned figure is increasingly being used as a benchmark in assessing a country’s external sector resilience, particularly in the context of IMF programs.

This reporting comes as the country continues efforts to stabilize its external sector, manage import payments, and maintain currency stability amid global economic challenges.