State Bank of India (SBI) asked its branches to avoid taking major foreign currency exposure on Bangladesh until further instructions, warning that Bangladesh is “facing a shortage of foreign currency due to higher import bills and weakness of the Bangladeshi taka against the USD in recent times”. This effectively means that domestic exporters and importers who have business links with the country’s top lender will be discouraged from settling trade with Bangladesh in USD or other major currencies. Exporters, however, fear that such a move could adversely affect the immediate trade flow between the two countries.