Staff Reporter :
As the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha draws near, expatriates have illuminated the economic landscape of Bangladesh with a remarkable remittance inflow of $1.45 billion through banking channels in the initial 12 days of June, as reported by Bangladesh Bank’s latest data.
This figure marks a substantial increase from the $840 million received during the corresponding period last year.
Bankers attribute this surge in remittances to the impending Eid-ul-Azha festivities, a time when remittance flows traditionally surge.
Moreover, the appreciating value of the dollar vis-à-vis the local currency has emboldened expatriates to augment their remittance transfers, thereby amplifying their financial support for loved ones back home.
Senior officials from various private banks have underscored that this uptick in remittances coincided with the central bank’s decision to adjust the official exchange rate, elevating it from Tk110 to Tk117. Presently, banks are procuring remittances at rates ranging from Tk118 to Tk119.
The crescendo of remittance flows saw May culminate with a zenith of $2.25 billion, marking a 46-month pinnacle and averaging $72.5 million daily.
The momentum has persisted into June, surging to an average daily remittance of $121.7 million, an escalation exceeding $50 million from the preceding month.
Analysts within the banking sector conjecture that if this trajectory endures, remittance inflows could eclipse a formidable $2.50 billion by month-end.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh received $21.61 billion in remittances by the end of 2022–23. Data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) indicates that 2023 witnessed the highest number of Bangladeshis leaving for work abroad in the nation’s history, with 1,350,000 individuals emigrating. Additionally, in the first four months of the current year, 322,000 people have already secured employment overseas.