DHAKA: Foreign exchange reserves reached $16.15 billion at the end of September this year, said a source in the central bank.

A Bangladesh Bank official, wishing anonymity, said that foreign exchange reserves stood at $16,154 billion at the end of the last month after reaching $16,250 billion at the end of August.

Foreign exchange reserves hit a record high of over $16 billion in August, reflecting the country`s strength from the economical and financial point of view.

Earlier, in the first week of April, the reserves touched the $15-billion-mark for the first time.

The South Asian nation, with a population of about 153 million, needs a reserve of about $10 billion to meet its import bills for three months as per an internationally accepted standard.

BDST: 1816 HRS, OCT 03, 2013
AKA/JCK