Forex reserves fall below $20b
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have once again dropped below $20 billion, driven by import bills and foreign debt repayments.
The foreign exchange crisis in Bangladesh persists, leading to a decline in reserves to $19.93 billion as of January 22, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) BPM-6 standards.
On the same day, total reserves stood at $25.22 billion, as reported by Bangladesh Bank.
On January 15, the reserves were $21.3 billion under BPM-6 standards, with total reserves at $25.18 billion. Over the last six days, reserves have decreased by $200 million under BPM-6.
Additionally, there is another calculation of net or actual reserves, which the central bank does not disclose. Sources indicate that the country's usable or actual reserves now stand below $16 billion.
These real reserves, free of liabilities, are calculated as per IMF guidelines provided during loan arrangements.
The IMF also requires Bangladesh to maintain specific levels of real reserves at designated intervals as a condition for its loans.
