The highest rate ever in dollar transactions in the open market!
MTNews24 Desk: This foreign currency crisis is deepening in the country’s banks after the Bangladesh Bank warned about transactions at fixed rates. In the open market, it is selling at 128 taka per dollar which is about 15 taka higher than the price set by the central bank. This is the highest ever dollar exchange rate in the country.
Central bank officials declined to comment on the dollar’s record price on the open market. However, they said, the illegal dollar traders behind the high rate of dollar transactions are being investigated.
Bangladesh Bank spokesperson and executive director Majbaul Haque told UNB in this context, ‘The central bank has strictly warned the banks to buy dollars at excessive prices. The central bank will severely punish the concerned institution if the bank buys dollar ignoring the bank rate.
On the other hand, the price of the dollar is increasing unbridled in the open market. In the space of three days, the price in the open market (curb market) increased by three rupees per dollar. On Saturday, every dollar was sold at Tk 127 in the open market. Earlier on Wednesday, every dollar was sold at Tk 124 in the open market.
For money exchangers, Bangladesh Bank has fixed the buying price of the dollar at 113 75 paisa and the selling price at 115 taka 25 paisa. However, dollars are not being traded in any money exchange at this price.
Although dollars are not traded in the money exchanges, buyers bought 128 rupees per dollar from various shops and restaurants in Motijheel, Dilkusha, Paltan, Fakirapool areas on Saturday.
In this regard, Bangladesh Money Changers Association Secretary General Helal Sikder said, ‘Dollars are not being traded at the rates set by Bangladesh Bank. The customer comes in and leaves without getting a dollar. They are forced to buy dollars from illegal traders at exorbitant prices.’
