Gross reserve at $31 billion after ACU payment

Even after paying $1.61 billion to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), the country's gross reserve remains above $26 billion.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, as of today, Sunday, November 9, the country's gross reserve stands at $26.44 billion. Previously, on October 27, the reserve was $27.37 billion.

Central Bank accounts show that in July 2022, Bangladesh paid $1.96 billion to ACU for May-June import expenses. Since then, ACU payments slightly decreased. In 2023, the bi-monthly payments remained below $1.3 billion.

However, from September-October 2023, ACU payments began to rise again. In May-June of the current year, ACU payments reached nearly $2 billion, the highest in the last three years.

The ACU or Asian Clearing Union was established on December 9, 1974, under the initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia. Its headquarters is in Tehran, Iran. Nine countries — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — settle regional transactions through ACU.