DHAKA, Jan 3, 2019 (BSS) – Expatriate Bangladeshis sent US$ 7491.29 million remittances during the first six months of the current fiscal 2018-19, which is apparent 8.06 per cent higher than the same period of the preceding year, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) data said today.
The country received US$6,932.36 million remittances during July to December in 2017-18 financial year, the data added.
“The flow of remittances into the country shows upward trend in the current fiscal 2018-19 as the BB has taken measures to streamline the legal channel for encouraging Non Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to send money to the country,” BB Chief Spokesperson M Serajul Islam told BSS.
He said the recent flow of remittance indicates that it is gradually increasing and this trend is likely to continue in the upcoming months.
According to the BB data, the country received $1,202.85 million in December, $1,180.44 million in November, $1,239.11 million in October, $1,139.66 million in September, $1,411.05 million in August and $1,318.18 million in July, 2018.
But in 2017-18, the country got US$1,163.82 million in December, $1,214.75 million in November, $1,162.77 million in October, $856.87 million in September, $1,418.58 million in August and $1,115.57 million in July.
In December this fiscal, six state-owned commercial banks- Agrani, Janata, Rupali, Sonali, Basic and BDBL- received $277.13 million while one state- owned specialised bank- Bangladesh Krishi Bank- received US$14.28 million.
Of the state-owned banks, Agrani Bank received $110.66 million, Janata Bank $61.67 million, Rupali Bank $15.09 million, Sonali Bank $89.55 million and Basic Bank received $0.15 million.
Besides, the expatriates have sent US$900.93 million through private commercial banks. Among the private commercial banks, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) received the highest amount of US$230.90 million as Dutch- Bangla Bank (DBBL) received $84.78 million.
On the other hand, the expatriates have sent $10.51 million through the foreign commercial banks.