Bangladesh Economy Daily Brief (5 pm Dhaka)
– Reserves edge higher: Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $26.62 billion, supported by stronger remittance inflows and export receipts. The uptick eases some pressure on the external balance ahead of peak import months.
– Remittances accelerate: Inflows jumped nearly 16% year-on-year in the July–September quarter, adding momentum to the reserve build-up and providing a cushion for the current account.
– Exports: mixed signal: Goods exports grew 5.64% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY26, but September shipments fell 4.61% from a year earlier — the second straight monthly decline — amid tariff uncertainty in key markets. The quarter’s gain suggests July–August strength offset September’s softness.
– Trade and investment diplomacy: Dhaka hosts a Saudi–Bangladesh business summit on 7 October, with B2B meetings aimed at unlocking investment and trade deals across multiple sectors. Any concrete commitments could bolster FDI prospects and medium-term export capacity.
– Multilateral financing: Bangladesh has secured $250 million in new World Bank funding, adding fiscal and reform support at a time of tighter external financing conditions.
Policy watch
– The latest trade pattern underscores the need to broaden the export base beyond apparel and move up the value chain, while leveraging resilient remittance flows to stabilize the currency and rebuild buffers.
What to watch
– Outcomes from the Saudi business summit (investment pledges, MoUs).
– Whether remittance strength holds through October.
– Confirmation of September export breakdown and any policy response to external tariff headwinds.
