Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Bangladesh’s foreign exchange (forex) reserve crossed the US$25 billion-mark again on Tuesday following higher flow of inward remittances ahead of the Eid festival and steady growth of export earnings.
The reserve rose to $25.03 billion on the day from $24.76 billion of the previous working day. It was $25.02 billion on June 25 last, according to the central bank latest statistics.
“Our forex reserve has crossed the $25 billion again due mainly to higher flow of inward remittances and boosting repatriation of export proceeds ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr festival,” Kazi Sayedur Rahman, general manager of the Forex Reserve and Treasury Management Department of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), told BBN in Dhaka.
The country received $ 599.59 million as remittances between July 01 and July 10 from Bangladeshi nationals who are working abroad, the BB data showed.
Mr. Rahman also said now the country can settle more than seven months’ import bills with the existing forex reserve.
Lower prices of petroleum products in the global market and private sector credit from overseas sources have also helped the country to have such a comfortable forex reserve, according to the central banker.
Purchasing of the US dollar from the commercial banks has also contributed to increasing the forex reserve recently, they added.
A total of $560 million was bought from the commercial banks between July 02 and July 14 of the current fiscal year (FY) 2015-16 as part of the BB’s intervention in the market.
