Dhaka, May 8 -- Bangladesh's trade deficit has reached $15.43 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, reflecting a 2.03 percent decline compared with the same period last year.

Between July and March of FY 2023-24, the trade deficit stood at $15.75 billion.

Economists said the rise in the deficit was mainly due to higher imports compared with exports.

Updated data released by Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday shows the country exported goods and services worth $33.87 billion during the July-March period of FY 2024-25.

In the same period a year earlier, export earnings were $30.95 billion-reflecting a growth of 9.50 percent.

Imports totalled $49.30 billion during the period, marking a 5.60 percent increase from $46.70 bi...