Bangladesh Trade Deficit Hits Three-Year High of $27.28 Billion

Bangladesh is a country that buys things from other countries and sells things to other countries.

When a country buys more than it sells, the difference is called a trade deficit.

Last year, Bangladesh's trade deficit grew to its highest level in three years.

The deficit reached $27.28 billion, about 34 percent bigger than the year before.

Imports, the things Bangladesh buys, went up, but exports, the things it sells, stayed about the same.

Most of the extra cost came from more expensive fuel because of a conflict in West Asia.

Some experts warn this does not mean the country's factories are really growing stronger.

Machines and raw materials used to build industry are still not being imported much.

However, Bangladeshis working abroad sent home a record amount of money, which helped protect the country's finances.

Because of that money, the bigger trade gap has not yet caused a money crisis.