Expatriates from Dhaka Division have sent the highest remittances to Bangladesh in the first six months of the current fiscal year (July-December), while Rangpur Division contributed the least, according to a recent Bangladesh Bank report.

Remittance breakdown by division

During the July-December period, the country received a total of $1,377.6 million in remittances, with the following division-wise contributions:

Dhaka Division: $6.65 billion (highest)

Chittagong Division: $3.81 billion

Sylhet Division: $1.24 billion

Khulna Division: $652.4 million

Rajshahi Division: $504.2 million

Barisal Division: $386 million

Mymensingh Division: $287.2 million

Rangpur Division: $221 million (lowest)

January figures show strong start to 2025

In the first 25 days of January 2025, expatriates sent $1.6759 billion in remittances, amounting to 20,447.2 crore taka at a rate of 122 taka per dollar. This averages 818 crore taka daily, indicating that remittances for January are likely to surpass $2 billion, marking the seventh consecutive month of remittances exceeding this milestone in the current fiscal year.

Record-breaking december remittances

December 2024 saw the highest monthly remittances in Bangladesh’s history, reaching $2.64 billion, equivalent to 31,668 crore taka. This figure broke the previous record of $2.59 billion from July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compared to December 2023, when remittances totaled $1.991 billion, December 2024 saw a significant increase of $648 million.

Comparative growth

In the first half of the current fiscal year (July-December 2024-25), remittances totaled $1,377.7 million, marking an increase of $2.977 million compared to the same period last fiscal year, which saw $1,800 million in remittances.

Outlook for 2025

The upward trend in remittances reflects continued contributions from Bangladeshi expatriates, particularly from Dhaka Division. If this momentum continues, the fiscal year is on track to achieve robust remittance growth, providing crucial support for the country’s economy.