Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The central bank of Bangladesh has sold US$ 12 million more to six commercial banks directly to meet the growing demand for the greenback in the market.
“We’ve sold the US currency to the banks at market rate on Monday to settle their import payment obligations,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country’s central bank, told BBN in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Taka (BDT) depreciated 10 paisa further against the US dollar on the day following higher demand for the greenback in the market.
The exchange rate of the BDT against the US dollar was quoted at maximum BDT 81.40 on Monday against BDT 81.30 of the previous working day, according to the market operators.
However, some banks were traded the US dollar at maximum BDT 84.20 on the day in the mane of corporate deals, they added.
The central bank has resumed providing the foreign exchange support in the recent months through selling of the US currency to the banks directly to keep the market stable.
A total of $458 million was sold since July 01 of this fiscal year, 2017-18, to the commercial banks as part of its ongoing support, according to BB’s latest data.
The market operators said the demand for the US dollar is gradually increasing, mainly due to higher import payments pressure, particularly of capital machinery, petroleum products and consumer items including food grains.
BBN/SSR/AD