Bangladesh receives Tk 92b remittance in 19 days before Eid

Expatriate Bangladeshis have sent home Tk 92.73 billion in the first 19 days of May, just before the Eid-ul-Fitr, show Bangladesh Bank data.

During the same period last year, the country received Tk 92.99 billion.

Bank officials said despite coronavirus crisis worldwide, expatriates are sending money ahead of Eid.

Those who are returning home are also sending money back home, the bankers added.

The bank officials, however, predict the remittance inflows may decrease in the days to come.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, former chairman of Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) Anis A Khan said expatriates usually send money even on credit before Eid.

He, however, said the real picture will be clear in June. The remittance inflow will decrease to a great extent, Anis predicted.

Sources said most of the countries from where Bangladesh receives major portion of remittance have shut remittance houses and banks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Bangladeshis have fallen in trouble in those countries, especially in the Middle East.

The top 15 countries from where the remittances came from are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States, Kuwait, UK, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Italy, Bahrain, Singapore, South Africa, France, South Korea, and Jordan.