Bangladesh, July 24 -- A double-digit drop in capital machinery imports and falling export revenues have driven Bangladesh's trade deficit up by nearly 24 per cent to $23.98 billion in FY 2025-26, leaving a historic $35.5 billion remittance surge to single-handedly cushion the external economy from severe distress.

Advertisement The external trade is presenting a stark, two-way picture. On one hand, a slowdown in industrial raw material and capital machinery imports points to sluggish domestic manufacturing; on the other, export earnings have failed to meet expectations. Consequently, the country's trade imbalance has worsened, driving the foreign trade deficit up by nearly 24 per cent, reports UNB.

However, a record surge in foreign r...