Remittance inflow rises 13.1pc in March-Aug

Bangladesh received US$18.94 billion in workers' remittances during March-August 2026, marking a 13.1 percent increase over the $16.74 billion received during the corresponding period of 2025, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The latest figures indicate a sustained improvement in remittance inflows, with expatriate Bangladeshis sending more money home through formal channels amid measures taken by the government and Bangladesh Bank to encourage legal remittance flows.

Among the major sources of remittances during the six-month period, Saudi Arabia topped the list with US$3,088.05 million, followed by the United Kingdom with US$2,940.27 million, the United Arab Emirates with US$2,267.22 million, the United States with US$1,716.54 million and Malaysia with US$1,487.06 million.

Together, these five countries accounted for US$11.50 billion, or around 60.7 percent of the total remittance inflow received by Bangladesh during March-August 2026.

In March 2026, remittance inflow stood at $3.75 billion, compared with $3.30 billion in March 2025, registering a 13.6 percent year-on-year increase.

The country received $3.13 billion in April, up 13.8 percent from $2.75 billion in the same month of 2025. In May, remittance inflow increased to $3.43 billion, compared with $2.97 billion, showing a 15.5 percent rise.

In June, however, the inflow remained almost unchanged at $2.81 billion, compared with $2.82 billion a year earlier.

Remittance inflow rebounded strongly in July, reaching $2.86 billion, up 15.3 percent from $2.48 billion in July 2025.

In August, it rose further to $2.96 billion, compared with $2.42 billion a year earlier, registering the highest monthly growth of 22.3 percent during the period.

Talking to BSS, Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said the continued growth in remittance was a positive sign for the country's external sector and reflected growing confidence among expatriate Bangladeshis in sending their hard-earned money through formal banking channels.

He said the government and the central bank have been working to make formal remittance channels more convenient and attractive for expatriate Bangladeshis, while discouraging illegal hundi transactions.

"The rise in remittance is a positive indication of the confidence of our expatriate workers and their families in the formal financial system," he said.

The spokesperson said the government's initiatives to facilitate remittance transfers, improve banking services and strengthen the formal foreign-exchange market were contributing to the encouraging trend.

He also praised the contribution of Bangladeshi migrant workers and expatriates to the national economy, saying their remittances were playing an important role in strengthening foreign-exchange liquidity and supporting the country's economic stability.

"Our expatriate Bangladeshis are making a major contribution to the economy. The government's efforts to create a more supportive environment for remittance inflows will continue," Khan said.

He said stronger remittance inflows would help improve the country's balance of payments, strengthen foreign-exchange reserves and provide greater stability to the external sector.

The Bangladesh Bank spokesperson also expressed optimism that the government's ongoing efforts to improve economic management and restore confidence in the financial system would further encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to send their earnings through legal channels.

Meanwhile, the government has continued to emphasise the importance of migrant workers and expatriate Bangladeshis as a major source of foreign exchange, with policymakers seeking to make remittance services faster, safer and more accessible.

The six-month figures show that remittance inflow in 2026 exceeded the corresponding 2025 level in five out of six months, with August posting the strongest growth.

It may be mentioned that the formal process of exporting manpower from Bangladesh began in 1976 with the sending of Bangladeshi workers to the Middle East under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

Since then, the migration of Bangladeshi workers to various countries around the world has gradually increased.

The importance of the sector to the country's economy has also grown over time. In particular, it has made a significant contribution to remittances, one of the country's major sources of foreign exchange earnings.

Currently, more than 15 million Bangladeshis are working in 176 countries around the world.

The trend is expected to provide further support to the country's foreign-exchange position and overall macroeconomic stability, officials said.

Source: BSS