Bangladesh Bank Gold Reserves: Most of 14,278kg Stored in UK

💰 Dhaka, Bangladesh — Bangladesh Bank currently has around 14,278kg of gold in its reserves, worth approximately Tk 13,436 crore (134.3 billion). A large portion of this gold is stored at the Bank of England, the UK’s central bank. The remainder is kept at several international banks and in Bangladesh Bank’s own vaults.

📊 The information comes from Bangladesh Bank’s audited report for the 2025–26 financial year. According to the report, the quantity of gold held in the central bank’s reserves remained unchanged during the past financial year. However, its value increased significantly as gold prices rose in the global market.

📊 Gold Reserve Details

📊 Bangladesh Bank held a total of 459,163.52 troy ounces of gold in 2024–25, and the amount remained unchanged at the end of 2025–26. The total value of the gold increased from Tk 110.14 billion in 2024–25 to Tk 134.36 billion at the end of the latest financial year — an increase of around Tk 24.22 billion.

📊 In Bangladesh and South Asia, gold is measured in bhori (one bhori = 11.66 grams). Bangladesh Bank holds around 14,282kg, or 14.28 tonnes, equivalent to approximately 1,224,588 bhori.

🏛 Where the Gold is Stored

📊 According to Bangladesh Bank’s financial report, its gold reserves are stored at several locations:

• 🇬🇧 Bank of England: ~188,927 troy ounces (largest portion, used in lending activities)
• 🇧🇩 Bangladesh Bank own vaults: ~83,961 troy ounces
• 🇬🇧 Standard Chartered Bank (UK): ~92,739 troy ounces (~Tk 45.66 billion)
• 🇬🇧 HSBC (UK): ~93,535 troy ounces (~Tk 46.05 billion)

💰 Bank of England Gold Lending

📊 The largest portion — around 188,927 troy ounces — is stored at the Bank of England and is used in lending activities. Instead of simply keeping the gold in the Bank of England’s vaults, Bangladesh Bank can lend it to other banks or financial institutions in the international market for a specified period to generate additional income. In return, Bangladesh Bank receives interest or fees at an agreed rate.

💰 Global Gold Price Surge

📊 Investors around the world have increasingly turned to gold over the past two years amid geopolitical uncertainty and US President Donald Trump’s trade policies. Gold price trajectory:

• 💰 June 2025: US$3,297 per ounce
• 💰 29 January 2026: US$5,600 per ounce (peak)
• 💰 30 June 2026: US$4,024 per ounce
• 💰 Last Sunday (7 Sept 2026): US$4,430 per ounce

💰 Bangladesh Domestic Gold Prices

📊 Gold prices have also risen in Bangladesh. An analysis of data from the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) shows:

• 💰 July 2023: crossed Tk 100,000 per bhori for the first time
• 💰 June 2025: 22-carat gold at Tk 170,236 per bhori
• 💰 June 2026: Tk 221,966 per bhori
• 💰 Last Sunday (7 Sept 2026): Tk 235,146 per bhori

🧴 Silver Reserves Also Held

📊 Alongside gold, Bangladesh Bank also holds 168,728 troy ounces of silver in its own vaults. The quantity of silver remained unchanged over the past year, but its market value rose from Tk 750 million to around Tk 1.21 billion because of higher prices.

🌏 Strategic Context: Bangladesh Bank Reserve Management

📊 For Bangladesh Bank’s reserve management strategy, the gold reserve data reveals several key insights:

• 💰 Diversified storage — gold held at 4 locations (Bank of England, BB vaults, StanChart, HSBC)
• 💰 Active lending — Bank of England portion generates income through lending
• 💰 Value appreciation — Tk 24.22 billion increase without any new gold purchases
• 📊 Safe-haven asset — gold serves as hedge against currency and geopolitical risks
• 📊 International confidence — storage at Bank of England signals trust in international banking

📋 Implications for Bangladesh Forex Strategy

📊 For Bangladesh’s broader foreign exchange management, the gold reserves complement forex reserves:

• 💰 Total reserves: ~$36 billion (forex) + Tk 13,436 crore (gold)
• 💰 Hedge against USD volatility — gold provides diversification from USD-denominated reserves
• 💰 Geopolitical hedge — gold value rises during crises, providing buffer
• 📊 Lending income — Bank of England gold generates fee income
• 📊 Domestic gold market — BAJUS pricing linked to international benchmarks

✅ For Bangladesh’s broader economic strategy, the gold reserve data demonstrates that Bangladesh Bank is actively managing its reserve portfolio — not just holding gold passively but generating income through lending activities. The Tk 24.22 billion increase in gold value during FY2025-26, achieved without any new gold purchases, highlights the importance of gold as a strategic reserve asset that appreciates during periods of global uncertainty.

🌏 For the domestic economy, the rising gold prices — from Tk 170,236 to Tk 235,146 per bhori in just over a year — have implications for jewellery consumers, gold investors, and the broader inflation picture. While gold is not a consumption good in the traditional CPI sense, its rising price reflects broader commodity price trends that affect Bangladesh’s import-dependent economy — particularly for industrial raw materials and energy commodities.