Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh's gross foreign exchange (forex) reserves remain over US$30 billion even after settling $1.50 billion in import payment obligations to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) member countries on Sunday.
After the July–August 2025 payment, the gross forex reserves stood at $30.31 billion, down from $31.43 billion on Wednesday, according to the traditional calculation of the Bangladesh Bank (BB). The figure was $31.19 billion a week earlier.
As per the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), the reserves declined to $25.40 billion during the period under review from $26.45 billion, BB data showed. It was $26.19 billion on August 28.
“Our forex reserves remain at a satisfactory level even after the routine payment to the ACU,” a senior BB official said.
Higher inflows of remittances along with steady export growth have helped strengthen reserves, the official explained. He added that overseas loan inflows and the central bank’s purchase of US dollars from commercial banks also contributed, while lower import expenses provided further support.
BB officials, however, said the ACU fund has already been remitted to its Tehran headquarters in line with existing provisions, under which import bills and related interest are cleared every two months.
The ACU payment for the July–August period stood at $1.50 billion, down from $2.02 billion earlier, reflecting lower imports from member countries. Bangladesh mainly imports consumer goods, cotton, raw materials, and capital machinery from ACU members, especially India.
The ACU is a settlement mechanism among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, launched in 1975 to promote regional trade. Bangladesh joined in 1976, followed by Myanmar in 1977, Bhutan in 1999, and the Maldives in 2010.
BBN/SSR/AD