Despite the global crisis, remittances from expatriates are playing a major role in strengthening the country's foreign exchange reserves. As a result, the country's economy is in a comfortable position.
In the previous year, 2024, remittances came in at $26.89 billion. In a year, the amount of remittances increased by about $6 billion or about 18 percent. The remittance flow was also very high in December, the last month of the year. This month, expatriates sent $3.23 billion. This is the second highest remittance in a single month. The highest remittance of $3.2956 billion was received in March 2025.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, in December 2024, expatriates sent $2.64 billion home. A year later, that figure increased to $3.23 billion. That is, remittances increased by $590 million, or about 22 percent, in December over the course of a year.
Those concerned say that remittances, export earnings, and foreign debt are the main contributors to foreign exchange reserves. Of these, expatriate income is the most reliable because it directly brings in dollars.
Bangladesh Bank officials say that the coordinated efforts of the government and the central bank to prevent hundi, continued incentives for expatriate income, and ease of banking channel services have led to an increase in remittance flows. As a result, the country's reserve situation has returned to normal.
Expatriate income for 12 months
The 12-month remittance flow chart for 2025 shows that $2.18 billion came in January, $2.53 billion in February, $3.3 billion in March, $2.75 billion in April, $2.97 billion in May, $2.82 billion in June, $2.48 billion in July, $2.42 billion in August, $2.68 billion in September, $2.56 billion in October, $2.89 billion in November, and finally $3.23 billion in December.
Year-wise remittance
According to Bangladesh Bank data, remittance inflows in the last few years have been higher than in previous years. Last year, remittances came in at $26.89 billion in 2024, $21.92 billion in 2023, $21.29 billion in 2022, $20.07 billion in 2021, and $21.74 billion in 2020.
Previously, the amount of remittances from 2014 to 2019 was between $13 billion and $18 billion.
Remittance based on fiscal year
Remittances in the first six months of the current 2025-26 fiscal year (July-December) amounted to $16.26 billion. Earlier, in the 2024-25 fiscal year, remittances amounted to $332.8 million. Before that, in the 2023-24 fiscal year, the amount of expatriate income was $23.92 billion.
Foreign exchange reserves are increasing due to the impact of remittances
Due to the strong inflow of expatriate income, the total foreign exchange reserves of the central bank have increased to $33.18 billion (as of December 30). According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) accounting methodology BPM-6, the amount of reserves is $28.52 billion.
