Remittance Inflows Reach 130.3 Billion Dollars This Fiscal Year

Bangladesh has recorded a robust rise in remittance inflows during the first five months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, signalling renewed confidence among expatriate workers and improved banking channels for foreign currency transfers. Between 1 July and 30 November, total remittances reached an impressive 130.3 billion dollars, marking one of the strongest performances in recent years.

According to figures released by Bangladesh Bank, the month of November alone saw a notable upswing, approaching the 3-billion-dollar mark. The distribution of these inflows highlights the increasingly diversified nature of the country’s banking system in handling remittances.

A breakdown of November inflows shows:

• 6 state-owned banks received 5.87 billion dollars,

• Bangladesh Agricultural Bank collected 2.95 billion dollars,

• private commercial banks accounted for 19.96 billion dollars, and

• foreign banks handled 0.059 billion dollars.

This distribution reflects the dominance of private banks in mobilising expatriate income, although state-owned institutions maintain a significant presence.

The central bank notes that last fiscal year (FY2024–25) total remittances stood at 303.3 billion dollars, a notable increase compared to 239.1 billion dollars in the 2023–24 fiscal year. From July to October of the current financial year, monthly inflows averaged around 2.5 billion dollars, before rising sharply in November. Bank officials attribute this surge to seasonal factors, expanded digital remittance channels, and the stabilisation of the foreign exchange market.

Bankers report that the strong flow of remittances has had a positive spillover effect on import activities. Commercial banks are presently issuing letters of credit (LCs) for essential Ramadan food items, and the abundance of foreign currency has eased previous difficulties in LC operations. The consistent inflow has also contributed to maintaining a stable US dollar exchange rate, preventing volatility that had unsettled the market in past years.

Economists observe that the current momentum underscores the importance of remittances as a pillar of Bangladesh’s external sector stability. They expect inflows to remain strong in the coming months, particularly as global labour markets continue to recover and more digital-financial incentives are rolled out for overseas workers.

Remittance Inflows (FY2025–26: July–November)