BB buys another $171m, taking February's first-week total to $389.5m

The Bangladesh Bank has purchased another $171 million from commercial banks, taking its total dollar purchases in the first week of February to $389.5 million, as rising remittance inflows boosted dollar supply in the market.

The central bank bought $171 million at a rate of Tk 122.30 per dollar from 16 commercial banks through an auction today (4 February), Executive Director and spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan told the media.

According to the Bangladesh Bank, the total amount of dollars purchased from commercial banks has stood at $4.32 billion.

Dollar supply has increased due to rising remittance inflows through banking channels, prompting commercial banks to sell dollars to the central bank.

A senior Bangladesh Bank official told The Business Standard that banks are keen to sell dollars, while the central bank is increasing its reserves through these purchases.

In January 2026, the country received $3.17 billion in remittances – the third-highest monthly inflow on record. This marks a 45.41% increase compared to $2.18 billion received in January 2025.

Previously, the highest remittance inflow was recorded in March 2025 at $3.29 billion, followed by $3.22 billion in December 2025.

A senior official said Bangladesh Bank is buying dollars mainly to sustain export and remittance flows and to prevent a fall in the exchange rate.

Bangladesh Bank began purchasing dollars through auctions for the first time in July 2025. These purchases have injected a significant amount of liquidity into the banking system.