Bangladesh is set to make a $1.6 billion payment to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) this week, which could reduce the foreign currency reserves of Bangladesh Bank to below $26 billion.

A senior official at Bangladesh Bank confirmed that after completing the ACU payment, the country’s reserves are likely to fall under $26 billion. As of October 27, the central bank reported reserves of $27.37 billion, but updated figures have not yet been released.

Historical data indicates that Bangladesh paid $1.96 billion to the ACU in July 2022 for import bills covering May–June. Payments then declined, staying below $1.3 billion per bimonthly cycle throughout 2023. However, from the September–October 2023 period, ACU payments began rising again. Following this trend, the May–June payment of 2025 reached around $2 billion, marking the highest payment in the last three years.

The Asian Clearing Union (ACU) was established on December 9, 1974, under the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, it facilitates regional transactions among India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

This week’s payment underscores Bangladesh’s continued engagement in regional financial settlements, while also highlighting potential pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves.