Forex Reserves Hold Above $31B After ACU Payment Amid Remittance Surge

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have remained resilient, holding above the $31 billion mark even after the central bank cleared a $1.48 billion import bill through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for May and June.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, net reserves stood at $31.72 billion at the end of Monday, calculated under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM6 method, while gross reserves registered at $36.17 billion. Central bank spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan confirmed that the current reserves comfortably cover four and a half months of the country's import expenses.

The country's reserve position has been steadily improving over the past month. This upward trajectory was significantly bolstered by a $1 billion budget support loan from the Asian Development Bank and a $667.1 million injection from the World Bank in June, alongside robust export earnings.

A massive surge in expatriate income has also played a crucial role. Migrant workers sent home $696 million in just the first six days of July. This marks a sharp 62.8 percent year-on-year increase compared to the $427 million received during the same period last year, reflecting a growing reliance on formal banking channels.

This July surge builds on the momentum of the recently concluded 2025-26 fiscal year, during which Bangladeshi expatriates remitted a staggering $35.34 billion. The combination of strong, continuous remittance inflows and a stabilizing reserve position provides a vital cushion for Bangladesh’s macroeconomic stability amid global economic uncertainties.