DHAKA, Sept 17, 2018 (BSS) – The remittance flow into the country has
increased 3.56 times in the last 10 years, which can be viewed as a milestone
on the way of upgrading Bangladesh a developed one.
According to data of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), Bangladeshi expatriates
sent US$ 1,31,859.04 million from fiscal 2008-09 to 2017-18, which was US$
94,822.86 million higher than that of previous 10 years.
Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) sent around US$ 37,036.18 million during
fiscal 1998-99 to fiscal 2007-08.
“Due to different steps taken by the government and the central bank, the
inflow of remittance in the last couple of years showed an upward trend,” BB
Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohammad Razee Hassan told BSS.
Moreover, he said, the number of Bangladeshi expatriates has been
gradually increasing as the government has taken various steps to send
skilled workers abroad.
He said the process of sending money into the country has become easier
than before as the central bank and the government have provided all sorts of
policy supports to the banks and exchange houses for giving smooth services
to the remittance senders.
“Now Bangladeshi expatriates are getting mobile financial services to send
remittance to home,” he added.
In the couple of months of fiscal 2016-17, he said, the inflow of
remittance was falling due to various reasons, including the decline of
currency rate against dollar, low oil price and the use of informal channels
by the NRBs in sending money.
He said BB took all necessary steps to divert the inflow of remittance
through legal channels and now NRBs feel more comfortable to send their
earnings through legal channels.
As part of its move to plug informal channels, Razee Hassan said, the
central bank has already put some mobile banking operators under its
surveillance as it has identified some mobile accounts being used for sending
remittance illegally.
According to the official data, migrant workers sent US$ 2,729.23 million
remittance in the first two months of the current fiscal 2018-19 while US$
14,981.69 million in fiscal 2017-18, US$ 12,769.45 million in fiscal 2016-17,
US$ 14,931.18 million in 2015-16, US$ 15,316.91 million in 2014-15, US$
14,228.26 million in 2013-14, US$14,461.14 million in 2012-13, US$ 12,843.43
million in 2011-12, US$ 11,650.32 million in 2010-11, US$ 10,987.40 million
in 2009-10 and US$ 9,689.26 million in fiscal 2008-09.
The NRBs sent US$ 7,914.78 million in fiscal 2007-08 while US$ 5,998.47
million in 2006-07, US$ 4,802.41 million in 2005-06, US$ 3,848.29 million in
2004-05, US$ 3,371.97 million in 2003-04, US$ 3,061.97 million in 2002-03,
US$ 2,501.13 million in 2001-02, US$ 1,882.10 million in 2000-01, US$
1,949.32 million in 1999-2000 and US$ 1,705.74 million in 1998-99.