Remittance inflow rises 13.1pc in March-Aug

Bangladesh received $18.94 billion in remittances during the March-August period of 2026, registering a 13.1 percent year-on-year growth compared to $16.74 billion received in the corresponding period of 2025, according to official data from Bangladesh Bank.

Central bank officials attributed the sustained improvement to measures encouraging expatriates to send money home through formal banking channels, alongside government incentives to curb informal money transfers.

Among source nations, Saudi Arabia retained its position as the top contributor, sending $3.08 billion during the six-month period.

It was followed by the United Kingdom with $2.94 billion, the United Arab Emirates with $2.27 billion, the United States with $1.72 billion, and Malaysia with $1.49 billion.

Together, these five countries accounted for $11.50 billion, representing roughly 60.7 percent of the total remittance inflow.

A month-by-month analysis shows that inflow reached $3.75 billion in March 2026 a 13.6 percent increase compared to March 2025 ($3.30 billion).

Inflows for April stood at $3.13 billion (up 13.8pc), while May saw $3.43 billion (up 15.5pc). Inflow remained largely flat in June at $2.81 billion, compared to $2.82 billion recorded in the same month of the previous year.

The recovery gained momentum in July, reaching $2.86 billion a 15.3 percent increase over July 2025 ($2.48 billion).

August recorded the highest monthly growth rate of the six-month period at 22.3 percent, with remittance receipts climbing to $2.96 billion against $2.42 billion in August 2025.

Industry experts believe the steady growth in formal remittances will continue to strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves and provide vital support to macroeconomic stability.