Forex reserves climb past $30b as BB steps up dollar purchases
The country's foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $30 billion mark, Bangladesh Bank officials said this evening (19 February).
Bangladesh Bank Spokesperson and Executive Director Arief Hossain Khan told journalists that the reserves now stand at $30.06 billion.
The central bank has been increasing reserves by purchasing US dollars from commercial banks through auctions.
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Officials said the move comes amid a rise in remittance inflows through formal banking channels.
In January 2026, expatriates sent home $3.17 billion, marking the third-highest monthly remittance inflow on record.
The figure is 45.41% higher than that of January 2025, when remittances stood at $2.18 billion.
A senior central bank official said the increased remittance flow has boosted the supply of dollars in banks.
To prevent the exchange rate from falling, Bangladesh Bank has been buying dollars through auctions.
By purchasing dollars from commercial banks, the central bank is simultaneously building up reserves and maintaining stability in the dollar exchange rate, the official added.
