As Bangladesh faces its first challenge in securing the next tranche from the ongoing $4.7 billion IMF loan program, an IMF delegation is set to visit Dhaka on April 5. The delegation will engage in discussions with various government departments over two weeks, reviewing the conditions for the disbursement of $2.39 billion. Meetings are scheduled with the Finance Division, NBR, Power Division, BPDB, BERC, and the Energy & Mineral Resources Division. A press briefing will be held on April 17, and two rounds of meetings will be held with the Finance Adviser. Bangladesh hopes to receive two loan installments together.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have exceeded $25 billion ahead of Eid, driven by record remittance inflows in March.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, the country’s total reserves rose to $25.44 billion on Thursday. Under the IMF’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves stood at $20.30 billion, while the usable reserves remain around $15 billion.

On March 9, Bangladesh Bank announced that it had cleared $1.75 billion in import payments through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for January and February, causing net reserves to drop to $19.75 billion at that time.

Bangladesh’s central bank is launching a major initiative to recover $25 billion laundered abroad, targeting 11 influential families suspected of illicit financial transfers to the UK, UAE, USA, Malaysia, and Singapore. Al Jazeera reports that a single family is accused of laundering assets worth $15 billion, including withdrawing 90% of deposits from a single bank. Governor Ahsan H. Mansur confirmed that Bangladesh Bank has begun discussions with British authorities and legal experts in London to seize and repatriate the stolen funds.

China will provide duty-free and quota-free access for Bangladeshi products until 2028, extending benefits for two years after Bangladesh transitions to a developing country. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang announced this during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Boao Forum for Asia. China also expressed interest in a free trade agreement and pledged support for Bangladesh’s interim government. Additionally, China will fund Mongla Port modernization, facilitate mango exports, and assist in resolving the Rohingya crisis through diplomatic efforts.

Remittance inflows have surged ahead of Eid, with expatriates sending nearly $3 billion in the first 26 days of March—setting a new record in Bangladesh’s history. This translates to approximately 36,000 crore taka. The previous highest remittance was $2.64 billion in December, followed by $2.53 billion in February.

Authorities attribute the increase to stricter measures against money laundering and informal money transfer systems (hundi) under the interim government.

Despite a continuous nine-day Eid holiday, Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed assured that the country’s economy would not face any stagnation. Speaking at the Secretariat after a government procurement advisory meeting, he stated that most advisory council members would remain in Dhaka. While some secretaries are traveling abroad, he emphasized that decision-making would not be disrupted, as digital systems allow for remote governance. His remarks aim to dispel concerns about potential economic slowdowns during the extended holiday period.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that since taking office, Bangladesh’s exports have increased by 13%, and container handling rose by 7% in January.
"The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority has already begun addressing key issues such as licensing requirements and repatriation laws to facilitate investment. An international investment summit is being organized, where prominent global investors will participate. Global leaders are maintaining close ties with this government and giving it due importance."
He also mentioned that during his recent visit to the UAE, he requested the lifting of visa restrictions for Bangladeshi travelers. Efforts are underway in this regard, and UAE investors are showing interest in Bangladesh’s industrial sector.

Economic Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud warned that the government’s efforts to save corruption-hit banks by printing money are proving ineffective.

Despite injecting large sums into the banking sector, financial institutions continue to struggle. He also noted a decline in hundi transactions, which has led to an increase in formal remittances.

Mahmud stressed the need for a long-term economic roadmap instead of short-term fixes. He also called for greater transparency in the Planning Commission, stating that past economic mismanagement had left the economy on the brink of collapse.

Leading editors from print and electronic media have urged the government to prioritize inflation control, investment growth, and job creation in the upcoming budget. They recommended raising the personal income tax exemption threshold to over 400,000 BDT and expanding social security programs.

Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the new budget will not include extravagant mega projects or empty promises but will focus on building an equitable and welfare-oriented economy. He emphasized that Bangladesh cannot afford to delay its transition from LDC status and must tackle corruption and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has claimed that economic data presented by the previous government was misleading and politically motivated. “The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) was directed to manipulate data as per their convenience,” she alleged. She also warned that Bangladeshi businesses are not adequately prepared to tackle the challenges of LDC graduation. The loss of tariff benefits post-graduation could cost the country’s export sector up to $8 billion annually. Additionally, foreign aid for climate financing is expected to decline. Fahmida also raised concerns about rising foreign debt.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to the U.S. have seen a significant rise, with export earnings reaching $799.56 million in January 2025—a 45.93% increase compared to January 2024, when exports stood at $547.95 million. The overall apparel imports of the U.S. also grew by 19.5% during this period, contributing to the surge in demand for Bangladeshi garments.

Bangladesh received $810 million in remittances in the first eight days of March, according to a report by Bangladesh Bank. In comparison, remittance inflows for the same period in February and January were $671 million and $535 million, respectively. This indicates a rising trend in remittance flow. Bangladesh Bank also reported that from March 2-8, the country received $784 million, while on March 1 alone, remittances amounted to $38 million. In 2024, total remittance inflows have reached $26.89 billion.

According to data from Bangladesh Bank, the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves have dropped to $25 billion after making payments to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). Under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation standard, the reserves now stand at $19.7 billion. Previously, on March 6, the gross reserves were $27.6 billion, with BPM6 reserves at $21.4 billion. The ACU is a regional clearing mechanism that facilitates financial transactions among member countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The organization, headquartered in Tehran, settles trade payments every two months through member central banks.

According to the latest update from Bangladesh Bank on Sunday, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.40 billion, driven by a positive inflow of remittances. As of March 6, the gross reserves stood at $26.60 billion. Based on the IMF’s BPM6 accounting system, the current usable reserves are $21.40 billion. In February alone, remittances amounted to $2.5 billion, equivalent to over Tk 308.29 billion.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to create a cryptocurrency reserve using government-owned digital assets. This move aligns with his campaign promise to make the United States the global capital of cryptocurrency.

Trump, the first U.S. president to accept campaign donations in cryptocurrency, has even launched his own digital currency. According to David Sacks, the federal crypto reserve will be funded through fines collected from criminal activities and assets seized in civil lawsuits, which will be converted into Bitcoin by the government.