Bangladesh, Oct. 12 -- Bangladesh's import payments rose by nearly 11 per cent year-on-year in July-August of fiscal year 2026-27, driven largely by higher global petroleum prices, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.

The upward trend may persist in the coming months, with import demand potentially rising further ahead of Ramadan, a senior BB official told The Financial Express.

"Higher prices of fuel oils in the global market pushed up import costs during the period under review," the official said, attributing the volatility in the international oil market mainly to tensions in the Middle East.

Actual import payments, measured by the settlement of letters of credit (LCs), for petroleum products surged by more than 38 per cent to ...