Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur announced today that the country is steadily moving toward a robust foreign exchange reserve of $35 billion. He emphasized that this growth is being achieved through internal economic strengths and macroeconomic consolidation rather than relying solely on external loans.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Systematic Efforts to Understand Economic Pulse: Importance of Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI),” organized by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh, Dr. Mansur highlighted the significant progress made in stabilizing the economy.
Building Reserves on Real Strength
The Governor noted that while reserves had previously plummeted from $48 billion to $20 billion, those higher figures were inflated by counting loan funds.
“We are now building a strong reserve without the need for IMF loan disbursements. Achieving the $35 billion mark will provide a very comfortable cushion for the economy,” Dr. Mansur stated.
The central bank chief also shared several positive indicators:
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Remittance Growth: Remittance inflows saw a staggering 69% growth in the first 18 days of January 2026.
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Deposit Surge: Bank deposits increased by 6% in December 2025, signaling a return of liquidity and confidence in the money market.
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Inflation Control: The current focus remains on curbing inflation and maintaining a stable foreign exchange rate.
The Role of PMI in Economic Planning
Dr. Mansur lauded the introduction of the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in Bangladesh, calling it a “real-time data” tool that helps policymakers see the “economic pulse” before official government data is released.
According to the latest report released at the seminar, the overall PMI for December 2025 stood at 54.2, up from 54.0 in November. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
Sector-wise PMI Performance (December 2025): | Sector | PMI Score | Status | | :— | :— | :— | | Agriculture | 59.6 | Strong Expansion | | Manufacturing | 58.2 | Expansion | | Services | 51.8 | Marginal Expansion | | Construction | 49.8 | Contraction |
International and Industry Perspectives
James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director of the British High Commission, attended as the special guest. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Bangladesh, particularly in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, stating that British investment will continue to support the country’s export potential.
Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, explained that unlike government data, which is often restricted, PMI data is open and transparent. “This allows the world to see Bangladesh’s current economic standing and facilitates informed investment decisions,” he noted.
MCCI President Kamran Tanvirur Rahman concluded that the monthly PMI is now a crucial tool for the government to determine future action plans and measure economic resilience.
