Remittance hits record $35.56b in FY26; growth declines
Despite the decline in June, total remittance inflows for FY2025-26 rose 17.3% year-on-year.
Highlights:
- Bangladesh records historic remittance inflows of $35.56bn in FY2025-26
- FY26 remittance receipts rise 17.3% year-on-year from $30.32bn
- Country receives $120m in remittances on final day of FY26 (provisional)
- June remittance inflows stand at $2.80bn, down 0.6% from a year earlier
Bangladesh received a record $35.5 billion in remittances in FY26, with expatriate Bangladeshis sending home more foreign currency than the country's gross foreign exchange reserves and over half of its total annual import bill.
The inflow marks the highest remittance figure in the country's history, representing 17.3% year-on-year growth. However, despite setting a new record, the growth rate was lower than in FY25, when remittances increased by 25.5% to $30.33 billion.
Bangladesh Bank spokesperson and Executive Director Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the figures to journalists.
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Bangladesh Bank data also show that June recorded the lowest monthly remittance inflow in the past eight months. Expatriates sent $2.80 billion during the month, marking the first time in six months that monthly remittances fell below $3 billion.
Remittances keep current account deficit in check
Economists say strong remittance inflows have played a crucial role in keeping the country's current account balance relatively stable.
Despite the trade deficit exceeding $4 billion in the latest balance of payments data, the current account deficit has narrowed significantly, largely because of robust remittance inflows.
The current account deficit stood at around $1 billion through April of the previous year, compared with approximately $1.5 billion in the preceding fiscal year.
Economists said the record remittance inflow has been the primary factor behind the improvement, noting that the current account is a key indicator of a country's external financial health. A stronger current account enhances overall macroeconomic stability and financial resilience.
Reserves continue to rise
Bangladesh's gross foreign exchange reserves have increased to $32.90 billion.
During the last fiscal year, the Bangladesh Bank boosted reserves by purchasing around $6.5 billion from commercial banks through auctions.
