The latest balance of payments data from Bangladesh Bank (BB) show that the country's trade deficit widened to about Tk 2,70,962 crore during the July"April period of fiscal year 2025"26, up from roughly Tk 2,33,874 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
The increase reflects stronger import demand and weaker export performance, widening the gap between the country's foreign purchases and sales.
Imports rose by 6.2 per cent to around Tk 7,10,345 crore, while exports declined by 1.5 per cent to nearly Tk 4,39,395 crore. Readymade garment (RMG) exports, the backbone of the country's export sector, also fell by 1.9 per cent to about Tk 3,90,546 crore.
As imports expanded faster than exports, pressure on the trade balance intensified.
The widening trade gap continued to weigh on the current account, which recorded a deficit of approximately Tk 13,091 crore during the period. Although deficits in services and primary income remained significant, the merchandise trade imbalance continued to be the main source of pressure on the current account.
However, remittances provided crucial support to the economy. Workers sent home nearly Tk3,57,802 crore, marking a 19.5 per cent increase from a year earlier. This strong inflow helped offset a large part of the trade deficit and strengthened foreign currency availability in the domestic market.
The overall balance of payments remained positive, recording a surplus of around Tk 45,640 crore, while gross official reserves climbed to the equivalent of about Tk 4,28,318 crore. These gains improved the country's capacity to finance imports and meet external payment obligations.
