The country’s foreign exchange reserves are below 20 billion (one billion in 1 billion) dollars.

Reserves rose to $20 billion at the end of last month. In the first week of March, the reserves fell back below 20 billion after the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) paid off $290 million in debt.

Then by borrowing dollars from commercial banks, the reserves again increased to cross the $20 billion mark. Now it’s down again.

According to sources, at the beginning of the day last Thursday, the country’s foreign currency net reserve was 1 thousand 999 million dollars. On February 29, net reserves were 2,570 million dollars. According to this, the reserve has decreased by 58 million dollars. At the beginning of the day last Thursday, gross reserves were 2 thousand 525 million dollars. On February 29, it was $2,576 million. Gross reserves decreased by 51 million dollars during the period under discussion.

Meanwhile, the central bank expects remittances to increase in February on the occasion of fasting and Eid. March and April will also increase.

This will have some positive effect on the reserves. In addition, imports have also decreased. The flow of foreign debt has started to increase again. It also increased the flow of dollars.

However, expatriates are sending more dollars to hundi in the form of cash for remittances during fasting. As a result, the price of the dollar in the carb market has decreased. The value of the dollar has fallen slightly in buying remittances at banks as well.

Because the pressure of expatriates to send remittances has increased. Due to which the price of dollar has decreased slightly. However, this price is not affecting the official rate of the central bank. Because the price set by Central Bank or Buffeta is now maximum Tk 110. It goes without saying that dollars are not being sold in the bank at that price.

According to central bank sources, no major debt will have to be repaid at once before next May. As a result, there will not be any major pressure on the reserves before May. Among these, if 500 million dollars are received from IDB for trade credit for the import of fuel oil, new dollars will not have to be provided for the import of fuel oil.

Besides, the third installment of the IMF and one installment of the World Bank loan are due. Some loans will also be available from the World Bank for budget support. They are being discussed.