Staff Correspondent:

Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves have reached $26.15 billion, according to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank.

The gross reserve, which reflects the total stock of foreign currency holdings, is one of the key indicators of a country’s economic stability.

Bangladesh Bank has confirmed that the figure has remained steady amidst ongoing economic adjustments and policy reforms.

In addition to the gross reserve, the central bank also calculates reserves based on the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments Manual 6 (BPM6), which now places the reserve at $20.9 billion. This method excludes various non-liquid assets, offering a more conservative estimate.

Bangladesh Bank further maintains a net reserve figure—calculated by deducting short-term liabilities from the gross—which has recently surpassed $15 billion. This figure, while not previously disclosed publicly, has gained significance due to IMF requirements.

The IMF recently hailed Bangladesh for achieving a net reserve level exceeding $16 billion, a critical benchmark for releasing the next tranche of the $4.7 billion loan programme.

Central bank sources suggest the required level could be maintained through June, paving the way for the release of two installments together.

Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, reiterated that the institution employs multiple methods to monitor reserves for internal and external reporting, including gross, BPM6-based and net reserves.