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 is on track to set a new record in remittance inflows, with expatriates sending $2.25 billion through banking channels in the first 19 days of March. This marks a significant 78.4 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank, the surge in remittance is largely attributed to the upcoming Eid celebrations, as non-resident Bangladeshis are remitting more funds to support their families. Remittance inflow surges amid forex reserve crisis The current remittance flow far exceeds that of the previous year. During the first 19 days of March 2024, the country received $1.26 billion in remittances. The substantial year-on-year rise underscores the increasing confidence in formal banking channels and the incentives provided for legal remittance transfers. From July 2024 to 19 March 2025, total remittances reached $20.75 billion. This figure is significantly higher than the $16.34 billion recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year, reflecting an approximate 27 per cent growth. Bangladesh receives $18.49 billion in remittances over 8 months Earlier this month, remittance inflows stood at $1.66 billion in the first 15 days of March. This means that an additional $590 million was received in the subsequent four days, with 19 March alone accounting for $132 million in remittance. Experts predict that if this trend continues, Bangladesh could surpass the $3 billion mark in remittance for March, setting a new monthly record. The highest monthly remittance inflow to date was recorded in December 2024, with $2.64 billion, followed by February 2025 with $2.54 billion. Expatriates send $1.93 billion in remittances in 22 days of Feb With Eid approaching and remittance inflows maintaining their momentum, Bangladesh is poised to achieve a historic milestone in its foreign exchange earnings through expatriate remittances.