Remittance hits record $3.75b in March

Remittance inflows to the country soared to a record $3.75 billion in March 2026, marking the highest monthly earnings since the country’s independence.

Data released by Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday shows that expatriate Bangladeshis sent home $3.755 billion during the month, a 14 percent increase compared to March last year. 

The surge is largely attributed to higher transfers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and increased expatriate spending during Ramadan. Heightened tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel and the United States also prompted non-resident Bangladeshis to remit more funds.

The previous record was $3.29 billion in March 2025, while December 2025 and January 2026 saw inflows of $3.22 billion and $3.17 billion, respectively.

Total remittance inflows for the July�"March period of the fiscal year reached $26.20 billion, up 20.3 percent from $21.78 billion during the same period last year. 

Analysts noted that the ongoing Middle East crisis has made the US dollar more favourable against the local Taka, encouraging expatriates to use formal channels for sending money.

Despite the strong inflows, economists have cautioned about potential economic shocks if the regional conflict escalates. 

In a recent meeting with Bangladesh Bank, eight prominent economists urged the central bank to safeguard foreign exchange reserves and warned that prolonged geopolitical tensions could pressure the dollar and national reserves. 

They also advised against premature adjustments to policy interest rates and recommended delaying initiatives to lower bank lending rates until inflationary pressures ease.

SH