Bangladesh’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Climb Above $36 Billion

Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves have remained above the US$36 billion mark under the Bangladesh Bank’s own accounting method, although reserves measured under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6) methodology stand at a lower level.

The latest figures were confirmed on Thursday night by Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan, who said the country’s foreign exchange reserves, calculated using the central bank’s traditional method, stood at US$36.08225 billion. Under the IMF’s BPM6 framework, however, reserves were recorded at US$31.5323 billion.

The updated data indicate a slight decline from the previous day. On 24 June, Bangladesh Bank’s own calculation placed reserves at US$36.10389 billion, while the BPM6-adjusted figure stood at US$31.55267 billion.

Reserve levels have shown gradual fluctuations throughout June. On 23 June, reserves amounted to US$35.79811 billion under the central bank’s methodology and US$31.24422 billion under BPM6. Earlier, on 17 June, the corresponding figures were US$35.80235 billion and US$31.23984 billion respectively. On 15 June, reserves stood at US$35.63065 billion under Bangladesh Bank’s calculation and US$31.08061 billion under the IMF standard.

Data also show that on 14 June, Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves were recorded at US$35.62634 billion under the Bangladesh Bank method and US$31.07572 billion under the BPM6 methodology. A significant boost followed that day after the country received a US$1.005 billion budget support loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), contributing to a noticeable increase in reserve holdings.

The difference between the two reserve calculations reflects the distinct methodologies used. Bangladesh Bank’s traditional figure represents the country’s total gross foreign exchange reserves, while the IMF’s BPM6 standard excludes certain less-liquid or earmarked foreign assets to provide a clearer picture of the reserves that are readily available for international payments and external obligations. In recent years, Bangladesh has adopted the BPM6 reporting framework as part of its commitments under IMF-supported economic reforms, improving transparency and aligning reserve reporting with international standards.

Foreign exchange reserves remain a key indicator of a country’s external financial strength. They help finance imports, meet foreign debt obligations, stabilise the domestic currency during periods of market volatility and bolster investor confidence. Economists and policymakers closely monitor reserve movements, as sustained reserve adequacy plays a vital role in maintaining macroeconomic stability and supporting international trade.

Despite the marginal day-to-day decline recorded on 25 June, Bangladesh’s reserves continue to remain comfortably above the US$31 billion threshold under the IMF’s internationally recognised methodology, while gross reserves have stayed above US$36 billion under the central bank’s own accounting system.