Bangladesh Bank (BB) purchased an additional $206 million from 15 commercial banks through a formal auction on Thursday. The move is part of the central bank’s ongoing strategy to stabilize the foreign exchange market and prevent an sharp decline in the value of the US dollar, which could adversely affect the country’s export and remittance earnings.
Strategic Market Intervention
Central bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the purchase, noting that the market currently has a surplus of dollars.
“The supply of dollars in the market now exceeds demand. Since July, we have been purchasing dollars to maintain a stable market price, ensuring that our exporters and expatriates receive fair value for their earnings,” Khan explained.
With this latest acquisition, the total volume of dollars purchased by the central bank since July has reached $3.75 billion. In January 2026 alone, the bank has already mopped up $617 million from the market.
Auction Details and Pricing
The transaction was conducted via the Foreign Exchange (FX) Auction Committee using the Multiple Price Auction method. The exchange rate for Thursday’s purchase was set at Tk 122.30 per dollar.
This intervention marks a shift from previous years when the central bank primarily sold dollars from its reserves to meet shortages. Now, with rising remittance inflows and robust export growth, the bank is actively buying to prevent the local currency from appreciating too rapidly.
Timeline of Key Dollar Purchases
The central bank has been consistently intervening since mid-2025. Below are some of the significant purchase milestones:
| Date | Amount Purchased | Rate (Per USD) |
| Jan 8, 2026 | $206.0 million | Tk 122.30 |
| Jan 6, 2026 | $223.5 million | Tk 122.30 |
| Dec 30, 2025 | $89.0 million | Tk 122.30 |
| Dec 9, 2025 | $202.0 million | Tk 122.29 |
| Oct 9, 2025 | $107.0 million | Tk 121.80 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | $353.0 million | Tk 121.75 |
| Jul 15, 2025 | $313.0 million | Tk 121.50 |
Impact on the Economy
By absorbing the excess liquidity, Bangladesh Bank aims to build up its foreign exchange reserves while providing a psychological floor for the dollar price. This stability is crucial for businesses to plan long-term trade contracts without the fear of extreme currency volatility.
Would you like me to create a summary table of all the specific purchase dates and rates mentioned in your text for a more detailed report?
Bangladesh Bank buys $206m through dollar auction
This video provides a broadcast report on the central bank’s aggressive dollar-buying strategy to maintain market stability.
