United News of Bangladesh

Remittance inflows to Bangladesh reached a record $3.75 billion in March, 2026, marking the highest monthly earnings since the country’s independence. According to data released by Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday, expatriate Bangladeshis sent home $3.755 billion during the month. The surge, largely driven by increased transfers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, has provided a significant boost to the country’s external financial position. According to central bank data, the March figures show a 14 percent increase compared to the same month last year. This surge is attributed to increased expatriate spending during Ramadan-Eid-Ul-Fitr and heightened tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which prompted non-resident Bangladeshis to send more funds home. Previously, the record for the highest monthly remittance was set in March last year at $3.29 billion. Other notable milestones include $3.22 billion in December 2025 and $3.17 billion in January 2026. Total remittance inflows during the July–March period of the fiscal year stood at $26.20 billion, registering a 20.3 percent growth from $21.78 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Sector insiders noted that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has led to a more favourable exchange rate for the US dollar against the local Taka, further incentivising expatriates to send money through formal channels. Despite the satisfactory inflow, economists have warned of potential shocks to the national economy if the regional conflict escalates. In a recent meeting with Bangladesh Bank, eight prominent economists advised the central bank to prioritise the preservation of foreign exchange reserves. The experts emphasised that while the full extent of the global crisis remains unclear, any prolonged conflict will inevitably put pressure on the dollar and national reserves. They cautioned against adjusting policy interest rates prematurely and suggested that initiatives to lower bank lending rates should only be considered once the current inflationary pressures subside.

Bangladesh’s remittance inflows have reached a historic high, recording US $3.62 billion in the first 30 days of March 2026. This surge, fueled by expatriates' increasing transfers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, has pushed the foreign exchange reserves to a robust $34.05 billion. The March figure marks a significant 10.7 percent growth compared to the $3.27 billion received during the same period in 2025. This record-breaking performance in March 2026 contributes to an exceptional trajectory for the current fiscal year (FY 2025-26). Cumulative remittance from July 2025 to March 28, 2026, has reached $26.07 billion, a staggering 19.8 percent increase over the $21.76 billion recorded during the corresponding period of FY 2024-25. Central bank officials attribute this record-breaking trend to the government's 2.5 percent cash incentive on formal banking channels, which has effectively discouraged the informal "hundi" system. Bolstered by the influx of foreign currency, Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves rose to $34.05 billion as of March 30, 2026. Under the IMF’s BPM6 manual, the reserves stood at $29.35 billion. This is a slight adjustment from mid-month figures, where gross reserves peaked at $34.22 billion on March 16. The surge was most concentrated in the first half of the month, with expatriates sending home $2.20 billion in just the first 14 days—a 35.7 percent jump compared to the previous year. Industry insiders noted that Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) traditionally ramp up transfers during Ramadan to support family festival expenses, providing a vital seasonal boost to the national economy. Economists suggest that if this momentum continues, total remittance for FY 2025-26 will likely surpass all previous annual records. Such a milestone would further stabilize the exchange rate of the Taka and ease pressure on the country’s balance of payments amidst ongoing global economic volatility.

Bangladesh’s remittance inflows have maintained a powerful upward trajectory, recording US $3.33 billion in the first 28 days of March 2026, as expatriates increase transfers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. Blessing on the remittance inflow, the gross foreign exchange reserve of Bangladesh increased to $33.99 billion, while, as per the IMF standard of BPM6, the reserves stood at $29.29 billion on March 29, 2026. According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank (BB), this figure represents a 3.8 percent growth compared to the $3.2 billion received during the same period in March 2025. The current fiscal year, FY 2025-26, continues to set new records for the country. Cumulative remittance from July 2025 to March 28, 2026, has reached $25.78 billion. This marks a significant 18.8 percent increase over the $21.69 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year FY 2024-25. Central bank officials attribute this surge to the government's 2.5 percent cash incentive on money sent through formal banking channels, which has successfully discouraged the use of the informal "hundi" system. The surge was particularly concentrated in the first half of the month. Expatriate workers sent home $2.20 billion in the first 14 days of March alone—a massive 35.7 percent jump compared to the $1.62 billion received during the same timeframe in 2025. Industry insiders noted that the flow remained steady between March 16 and March 23, with an additional $392 million entering the country. Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) traditionally ramp up transfers during Ramadan to help families cover festival expenses, providing a seasonal boost to the economy. The steady growth in foreign currency is providing a critical lifeline to the nation’s foreign exchange reserves amidst global economic volatility. As of March 16, 2026, Bangladesh’s gross reserves stood at $34.22 billion, while net reserves as per IMF BPM-6 stood at $29.52 billion. Economists suggest that if this trend continues, the total remittance for FY 2025-26 could surpass previous annual records, further stabilizing the exchange rate of the Taka and easing pressure on the balance of payments.

Bangladesh’s remittance inflows have maintained a powerful upward trajectory, recording $3.05 billion in the first 24 days of March 2026, as expatriates increased transfers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank (BB), this figure represents a robust 10.9 percent growth compared to the $2.74 billion received during the same period in March 2025. It is also the fastest time period in a month that the monthly remittance figure has crossed the $3 billion mark.  The current fiscal year FY 2025-26 continues to set new records for the country. Cumulative remittance from July 2025 to March 24, 2026, has reached $25.5 billion. This marks a significant 20.1 percent increase over the $21.23 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year FY 2024-25. Central bank officials attribute this surge to the government's 2.5 percent cash incentive on money sent through formal banking channels, which has successfully discouraged the use of the informal "hundi" system. The surge was particularly concentrated in the first half of the month. Expatriate workers sent home $2.20 billion in the first 14 days of March alone—a massive 35.7 percent jump compared to the $1.62 billion received during the same timeframe in 2025. Industry insiders noted that the flow remained steady between March 16 and March 23, with an additional $392 million entering the country. Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) traditionally ramp up transfers during Ramadan to help families cover festival expenses, providing a seasonal boost to the economy. The steady growth in foreign currency is providing a critical lifeline to the nation’s foreign exchange reserves amidst global economic volatility. As of March 16, 2026, Bangladesh’s gross reserves stood at $34.22 billion, while net reserves as per IMF BPM-6 stood at $29.52 billion. Economists suggest that if this trend continues, the total remittance for FY 2025-26 could surpass previous annual records, further stabilizing the exchange rate of the Taka and easing pressure on the balance of payments.

Bangladesh’s remittance inflows have maintained a powerful upward trajectory during Eid-Ul Fitr, recording a robust 7.4 percent monthly growth in 23 days of March 2026, compared to the same period last year.  According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank (BB), expatriates sent US$ 2.82 billion to Bangladesh during the first 23 days of March, up from $2.63 billion in 2025. The current fiscal year FY 2025-26 continues to set new benchmarks. Cumulative remittance from July 2025 to March 23, 2026, reached $25.28 billion, representing a significant 19.7 percent growth over the $21.12 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The surge was particularly visible in the first half of the month. Expatriate workers sent home $2.20 billion in the first 14 days of March alone, marking a massive 35.7 percent jump compared to the $1.62 billion received during the same timeframe in 2025. Between March 16 and March 23, an additional $392 million flowed into the country as non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) increased transfers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. The steady growth in foreign currency is providing a critical lifeline to the nation’s forex reserves. As of March 16, 2026, gross reserves stood at $34.22 billion. Under the IMF’s BPM-6 calculation method, net reserves are currently valued at $29.52 billion.

The deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, driven by conflict among Iran, Israel, and the United States, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Bangladesh’s $13.5 billion in remittance earnings from the region, experts and sector stakeholders said. Following military strikes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the escalating tension in the Gulf region is causing widespread instability in labour markets, aviation, and employment, directly impacting millions of Bangladeshi expatriates. The conflict has already turned tragic for the Bangladeshi migrants. Reports indicate that at least three Bangladeshi nationals have been killed and seven others injured in the crossfire of the regional conflict. Specifically, casualties have been reported in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The crisis has also crippled the movement of workers. Since late February, approximately 300 flights from Dhaka and Chattogram to Gulf destinations have been cancelled over 9 days following the onset of the conflict. An estimated 55,000 passengers, mostly migrant workers, are stranded, said Reaz-ul-Islam, senior vice president, BAIRA and proprietor of Reaz Overseas. This disruption poses a double threat; workers on leave are unable to return to their jobs, while thousands of new recruits face the expiration of their entry visas, risking the loss of their life savings invested in migration, he said. Bangladesh receives $2.2 billion in remittances in 14 days of March The Middle East is the heart of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings. Data from the Bangladesh Bank reveals that nearly half of the country's total remittance is sourced from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. In 2025, Bangladesh recorded a historic high of $32.8 billion in total remittances. Over $13.5 billion of this inflow came exclusively from the Middle East, where more than 4.5 million Bangladeshis are currently employed. Analysts warn that if the war persists, the growth trajectory of the past year will be impossible to maintain. Comparative Impact: 2025 vs. Potential 2026 Indicator FY 2024-25 (Actual) FY 2025-26 (Projected/Risk) Total Global Remittance $32.8 Billion $28.5 - $30.0 Billion (Estimated) Middle East Share 45.40% Projected to dip below 40% if war persists New Labor Export 1.1 Million Workers 30% reduction expected due to flight bans The Strategic Importance of Saudi Arabia and the UAE: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses a direct threat to the two largest sources of foreign exchange for Bangladesh. The largest labor market in Saudi Arabia remains the single most important destination for Bangladeshi migrants, hosting over 2.5 million workers. In the Fiscal Year 2024-25, Saudi Arabia contributed approximately $6.5 billion to the national exchequer. The conflict has led to a slowdown in infrastructure projects and the service sector in the Kingdom. If the war escalates, new recruitment under the "Vision 2030" plan—which many Bangladeshi workers were expected to join—could be delayed or suspended. Remittance inflow crosses $2 billion in just 18 days of February The high-value hub, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second-largest contributor, often competing closely with Saudi Arabia due to its diverse job market in construction, hospitality, and retail. The UAE contributed over $4.8 billion in the last fiscal year. As a major global transit and trade hub, the UAE's economy is highly sensitive to regional security. The recent flight cancellations (over 300 in the last nine days) have hit the UAE routes the hardest, preventing thousands of workers from returning to their duties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Economists’ warnings and policy recommendations: In a high-level meeting with Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman, eight of the country’s top economists urged the central bank to prepare for a "major shock." Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, former chief economist of Bangladesh Bank, told UNB that they recommended: Anti-Hundi Measures: Strengthening the crackdown on illegal money transfer channels to ensure every dollar enters through formal banking routes. Crisis Committee: Forming a special task force under the central bank to monitor geopolitical developments and make rapid policy adjustments. Labor Diversification: Urgently searching for new labor markets outside the Middle East and focusing on exporting skilled manpower to less volatile regions. "A prolonged war will lead to job cuts and reduced wages as businesses in the Gulf face stagnation," noted Asif Munier, an immigration expert. Similarly, Shariful Islam Hasan, currently oversees the BRAC Migration Programme, highlighted the financial ruin facing workers who have already invested Tk 3-4 lakh each to go abroad but are now stuck due to flight cancellations. Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury expressed grave concern over the situation. Speaking in Sylhet, he stated that while a dip in remittance is likely if the conflict lingers, the government’s "highest priority" is the safety of citizens abroad. "We are providing logistical support and medical assistance to the injured. If the situation worsens further, we are prepared to consider large-scale repatriation," the Minister added. Bangladesh’s forex reserves surge past $34 billion driven by remittance boom With the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector and remittances being the two lungs of the Bangladeshi economy, a "shock" to the Middle East labor market could pressure the national foreign exchange reserves and destabilize macroeconomic balance. The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has warned that new recruitment may come to a standstill if regional security is not restored soon.

Bangladesh’s remittance inflows have maintained a powerful upward trajectory, recording a massive 35.7 percent growth in the first 14 days of March 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) data. Expatriate workers sent home US$ 2.20 billion during the first two weeks (14 Days) of March, a significant jump from the $1.62 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. Between March 12 and March 14 alone, the country received $284 million in remittances ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr. Remittance inflow to stay stable if Middle East jobs remain unaffected: BAB chairman Cumulative remittance from July 2025 to March 14, 2026, reached $24.65 billion, representing a 22.6 percent growth over the $20.11 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. This surge comes on the heels of several monthly peaks, including $3.29 billion in March 2025—driven by Eid-ul-Fitr—and $3.17 billion in January 2026. As of February, gross reserves stood at $34.54 billion. However, under the IMF’s BPM-6 calculation method, net reserves are currently valued at $29.86 billion. Economists attribute this steady growth to a stabilised exchange rate and a significant crackdown on illegal hundi activities following the political transition in August 2024.

Expatriate Bangladeshis have sent over $2 billion in remittances during the first 18 days of February, as money transfers surged ahead of Ramadan and Eid. According to data released by Bangladesh Bank on Thursday (Feb 19), if this upward trend continues, total remittances for the month are expected to cross the $3 billion milestone. Central bank statistics show that January 2026 saw an inflow of $3.17 billion, marking it as the third-highest monthly total in the country's history. The current fiscal year (FY 2025–26) has shown robust growth, with total remittances reaching $21.56 billion between July 1 and February 18. This represents a significant 22.3 percent increase compared to the $17.63 billion received during the same period of last fiscal year 2024-25. The historical peaks for monthly remittances remain: $3.29 billion (March 2025 – fueled by Eid-ul-Fitr) $3.22 billion (December 2025) $3.17 billion (January 2026) Bangladesh’s forex reserves surge past $34 billion driven by remittance boom Impact on Reserves Economists believe the surge in formal channel transfers is a result of a stabilized exchange rate and a decrease in illegal hundi activities following the political transition in August 2024. This influx is providing a much-needed boost to the nation's foreign exchange reserves. As of February 17, the country's gross reserves stood at $34.54 billion. However, according to the IMF’s BPM-6 calculation method, the net reserves are currently valued at $29.86 billion. Banking officials and experts point to two primary drivers: Ramadan Preparation: Families in Bangladesh face higher expenses during Ramadan, prompting expatriates to send more money home. Increased confidence in the banking sector and a stable dollar rate have encouraged migrants to shun illegal channels in favor of official ones.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC will provide a motorcycle through a digital raffle draw on every banking day (Sunday-Thursday) for sending cash remittance through Ria Money Transfer. Remittance recipients will also get a key ring as a common gift. This offer will continue from 19 February to 18 March, 2026, on the occasion of Holy Ramadan. Md. Omar Faruk Khan, Managing Director of the Bank, inaugurated Islami Bank- Ria Nabil Mustafizur Rahman to be appointed MD of Sammilito Islami Bank Money Transfer Remittance Fiesta, as the chief guest on Tuesday, was held at Islami Bank Tower. Dr. Emil Ruban, Managing Director & Senior Regional Director of India and South Asia, Ria Money Transfer, spoke at the event as the guest of honor. Md. Altaf Hossain, Engr. Mohammad Jamal Uddin Mazumder and Dr. M Kamal Uddin Jasim, Additional Managing Directors addressed the program as a special guest. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Managing Director Presided over the program while Standard Bank rebranded as ‘Standard Islami Bank’ Rashedul Islam Talukder, Country Manager of Ria Money Transfer, Bangladesh, also spoke at the program, and Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, head of overseas banking.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have hit a new milestone, crossing $34 billion mark as of Monday (February 9). This growth is largely attributed to a sustained surge in inward remittances and strategic stability in the foreign exchange market. Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed that by the close of business on Monday, gross reserves stood at $34.06 billion. Under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserves are valued at approximately $29.48 billion. The reserves have shown consistent growth over the past month: February 9: $34.06 billion (BPM6: $29.48 billion) February 2: $33.25 billion (BPM6: $28.75B) January 15: $32.32 billion (BPM6: $28.03 billion) Expatriates remit Tk 200bn via bKash in 2025 While reserves peaked at an all-time high of $48 billion in August 2021, they faced a sharp decline due to money laundering and economic instability, falling to $20.48 billion at the time of the previous government’s fall.  The current recovery marks a significant turnaround for the nation’s economy. The "remittance windfall" continues to be the backbone of this recovery. Following a strong December, expatriates sent over $3 billion in January alone. This momentum has carried into February, with $1.03 billion arriving in the first eight days—a significant jump from the $ 54 percent received during the same period last year. Central bank sources indicate that the current leadership has managed to stabilize the exchange rate at approximately Tk122 per US dollar. Notably, the new governor has not sold a single dollar from the reserves since taking office, allowing the stockpile to grow organically.