Saudi Arabia has been the largest source of remittance as non-residents Bangladeshis (NRBs) living there sent $2.694 billion from the kingdom in 11 months (until May) of the 2015-16 fiscal year, UNB reports.
According to available statistics at Bangladesh Bank, Saudi Arabia is followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as NRBs residing in the gulf country remitted $2.450 billion during the same period.
Both the countries in the Middle-East constantly maintain their highest position in sending remittance by Bangladesh expatriates.
As per the central bank data, Bangladesh received $3.345 billion and $2.823 billion respectively from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2014-15 fiscal year.
Bangladesh received a total of $7.729 billion from all eight countries in the Middle-East, including the two countries (Saudi Arabia and UAE). The other six remittance sending countries in the Middle-East are Bahrain ($447.91 million), Kuwait ($929.35 million), Oman ($814.50 million), Qatar ($380.45 million), Libiya ($11.82 million) and Iran ($0.16 million).
The data show Bangladesh received third highest remittance of $2.212 billion from the USA until May in the fiscal year of 2015-16 while Malaysia, with $1.204 billion, has been in the forth position during the period.
In the same period, the NRBs in the UK sent $758.62 million while from Singapore $348.90 million, Italy $304.94 million, Australia $61.46 million, South Korea $57million, Hong Kong $23.16 million,
Japan $19.79 million and Germany $22.96 million.
The total remittance from other countries was $721.05 million during the same period.
It is believed that about 10 million non-resident Bangladeshis are now living in over 150 countries across
the globe.