Bangladesh Remittances Hit $35.59 Billion in FY2025-26: Saudi, UK Inflows Surge

Star Online Report, Dhaka — Bangladesh received $35.59 billion in remittances in the 2025-26 fiscal year, up from $30.33 billion a year earlier — a $5.26 billion (17.3%) year-on-year increase — as inflows from most major overseas labour markets recorded significant growth, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury told parliament on 3 September 2026.

The minister disclosed the figures in a written reply to a question from Nilofar Chowdhury Moni during a question-and-answer session at the Jatiya Sangsad.

📊 Overall Remittance Performance

• 💰 FY2025-26 remittances: $35.59 billion
• 💰 FY2024-25 remittances: $30.33 billion
• 💰 Year-on-year increase: $5.26 billion (+17.3%)
• 💰 August 2026 remittance: $2.97 billion (monthly)
• 📊 Growing markets: 14 countries recorded increases
• 📉 Declining markets: 4 countries recorded decreases

🇸🇦 Top Source Countries: Saudi Arabia Leads

Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances:

• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: $5.85 billion (up from $4.26 billion, +37.3%)
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: $5.07 billion (up from $3.17 billion, +59.9%)
• 🇦🇪 UAE: $4.58 billion (up from $4.17 billion, +9.8%)
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia: $3.40 billion (up from $2.80 billion, +21.4%)
• 🇮🇹 Italy: $2.05 billion (up from $1.65 billion, +24.2%)
• 🇴🇲 Oman: $2.05 billion (up from $1.66 billion, +23.5%)
• 🇰🇼 Kuwait: $1.76 billion (up from $1.62 billion, +8.6%)
• 🇶🇦 Qatar: $1.56 billion (up from $1.21 billion, +28.9%)
• 🇸🇬 Singapore: $1.49 billion (up from $0.99 billion, +50.5%)

🇺🇸 Declining Markets: US Drops 35.9%

However, the overall rise was accompanied by declines from four countries:

• 🇺🇸 United States: $3.03 billion (down from $4.73 billion, -$1.70 billion, -35.9%)
• 🇨🇦 Canada: $0.11 billion (down from $0.22 billion, -50.0%)
• 🇲🇻 Maldives: $0.12 billion (down from $0.14 billion, -16.4%)
• 🇲🇸 Mauritius: $0.08 billion (down from $0.14 billion, -42.7%)

The US decline of $1.70 billion is particularly significant — representing the largest single-country dollar decline in Bangladesh's remittance portfolio. The 35.9% drop in US remittances may reflect the broader US-Bangladesh trade dynamics, including the US reciprocal tariff impact and potential changes in the Bangladeshi diaspora's remittance behaviour following the trade deal that shifted more commercial payments through formal banking channels.

💰 Other Growing Markets

• 🇿🇦 South Africa: $0.67 billion (up from $0.40 billion, +67.5%)
• 🇫🇷 France: $0.47 billion (up from $0.34 billion, +38.2%)
• 🇦🇺 Australia: $0.26 billion (up from $0.20 billion, +30.0%)
• 🇯🇴 Jordan: $0.25 billion (up from $0.17 billion, +47.1%)
• 🇬🇷 Greece: $0.20 billion (up from $0.19 billion, +5.3%)

📊 Strategic Context

The $35.59 billion remittance figure provides critical support to Bangladesh's external sector:

• 📊 FY26 total exports: $48.38 billion
• 📊 FY26 total remittances: $35.59 billion
• 📊 Combined external inflows: $83.97 billion
• 📊 FY26 import bill: $75.20 billion
• 📊 FX reserves: $32.90 billion (BPM6)
• 📊 August 2026 exports: $4.43 billion (+13.14%)
• 📊 August 2026 remittances: $2.97 billion

🌏 UK Surge: Malaysia Labour Market Reopening Impact

The UK's 59.9% surge to $5.07 billion is particularly notable — making the UK the second-largest remittance source after Saudi Arabia. This surge likely reflects:

• 🇬🇧 Malaysia labour market reopening: 10,000 Bangladeshi workers to be recruited (ID 464)
• 🇬🇧 UK duty-free market access retained after LDC graduation (ID 443)
• 🇬🇧 Bangladeshi diaspora growth in the UK
• 🇬🇧 Formal channel shift from informal to banking remittance

🌏 Strategic Implications

• ✅ $5.26 billion YoY increase: substantial external sector support
• ✅ 14 countries growing: diversified remittance base
• ✅ Saudi Arabia $5.85b: remains largest single source
• ✅ UK $5.07b surge: second-largest, +59.9%
• ✅ Singapore +50.5%: significant growth from ASEAN
• ⚠️ US -35.9%: $1.70 billion decline, largest dollar drop
• ⚠️ Canada -50%: sharp decline, though small base
• ⚠️ Remittance concentration: top 3 sources = 43.5% of total

The $35.59 billion remittance figure represents a strategically important milestone for Bangladesh's external sector — providing $5.26 billion in additional foreign exchange inflows compared to FY25. The surge in UK remittances (+59.9%) and the continued dominance of Saudi Arabia ($5.85 billion) demonstrate the importance of both Gulf labour markets and the growing Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK. However, the 35.9% decline in US remittances warrants attention — potentially reflecting changes in diaspora behaviour following the US-Bangladesh trade deal. The combined $83.97 billion in exports and remittances provides substantial coverage for the $75.20 billion import bill, supporting the country's external position through the LDC graduation transition period beginning November 2026.