Bangladeshi expatriates have sent inward remittance worth USD $2.09 billion in July, first month of current fiscal year, Bangladesh Bank (BB) report said.

The BB report released on Monday stated that the remittance flow of July is the highest in 14 months.

The bankers and concerned people said that the holy Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated in July. Expatriates usually send additional money to their relatives during the Eid.

Also read: Bangladesh receives $1.64 billion remittance in 21 days of July:BB

Md Serajul Islam, executive director and spokesperson of BB told UNB that the central bank has simplified various processes to attract more remittance through banking channels.

The government is also extending remittance incentives as well as providing policy support. Now the dollar rate is getting higher, he said.

"Besides, last month was Eid-ul-Azha, expatriates sent money to celebrate the family's Eid festival beautifully. Remittances have increased due to these reasons. I hope this trend will continue,” Serajul said.

Also read: Digitalization: Global remittances flows expected to reach US$5.4 trillion by 2030

In June, the ending month of the last fiscal year, the expatriates sent $1.83 billion inward remittance through the banking channel.

Bangladesh received the highest $24.77 billion inward remittance in FY2020-21, amid global movement restrictions along with air flight due to the worsening situation of Covid-19 pandemic.

After that in FY 22 remittance income fell to $21.03 billion.

Read BB allows floating exchange rate of US dollar amid pressure

The sector insiders and experts believed that around $2 billion remittances entered Bangladesh on illegal paths despite different initiatives, including incentives as stimulus to send remittance in the legal channel.

Sources said a number of Bangladeshi expatriates in the Middle East, Malaysia, the USA, and Europe who cannot send money to the country in the banking channels lack valid documents.

As a result, they have to depend on the illegal hundi and other informal channels for sending their earnings to relatives in Bangladesh.

Read BB moves to encourage greater flow of remittance to boost forex