Bangladesh Bank eases freelancer forex rules

On July 22, 2026, Bangladesh — Bangladesh Bank issued a circular easing foreign exchange regulations for freelancers and individual service exporters. The new guidelines allow freelancers to use electronic evidence such as platform statements and emails as proof of foreign income, reducing reliance on traditional export documents. Inward remittances up to $20,000 can be credited without formal declaration. Payments via Online Payment Gateway Service Providers (OPGSPs) are permitted up to $10,000 per transaction. The circular also enables dual-currency freelancer cards and expands the use of Mobile Financial Service Providers (MFSPs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs). Freelancers in the ICT sector may retain up to 50% of export earnings in foreign currency accounts (Exporters' Retention Quota), while other service exporters may retain up to 30%. Market participants view the move as timely, aiming to encourage formalization of service export earnings, improve transparency, and strengthen foreign exchange inflows.