Staff Reporter :
Cross-border transactions by Bangladeshis using credit cards have increased, with the United States replacing India as the leading destination in September, according to a Bangladesh Bank report.
Credit card transactions abroad by Bangladeshi nationals amounted to Tk 421 crore in September, a 13 per cent rise compared to Tk 373 crore in August.
The report highlights that the United States has been the top country for credit card spending by Bangladeshis since July.
This shift comes after India imposed stricter visa restrictions,
limiting entry to emergency cases following the student-led uprising that ousted the government of Sheikh Hasina. Previously, most overseas credit card transactions by Bangladeshis were conducted in India.
In September, transactions in the United States accounted for approximately 18 per cent of the total, amounting to Tk 77 crore.
India, now in second place, saw spending of Tk 51 crore, nearly unchanged from August. Other countries where significant credit card transactions occurred include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, the UAE, Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia.
Industry insiders noted that Thailand and Malaysia have become popular travel destinations for Bangladeshis, partly due to India’s tightened visa policies, which have redirected travel and spending patterns.
