Dollar prices are declining in Bangladesh as supply exceeds demand, with the interbank rate falling by Tk1.24 over the past two weeks. On Monday, dollars traded at Tk122.56 in the interbank market, while banks sold cash dollars at Tk124. Money changers, however, said they want to buy each dollar at Tk125.50 and sell it at Tk126.50.

The Money Changers Association of Bangladesh made the request for this rate at a press conference on Monday. Association president MS Zaman said money changers mainly obtain dollars from returning expatriates and people bringing foreign currency from abroad. He said neither the central bank nor commercial banks supply foreign currency to money changers.

Zaman said money changers are blamed for market instability whenever the dollar rate rises, although they do not have the authority to control the foreign-exchange market. He also alleged that Bangladesh Bank treats them unfairly. According to him, Bangladeshis abroad can easily learn international dollar rates, making it unrealistic to expect them to sell their hard-earned foreign currency at lower prices.