Three ways money from abroad can arrive
| Way | Speed | What the receiver needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bKash, Nagad or Rocket wallet | Usually minutes, any day | A wallet registered in their own name with their NID | Monthly family support, emergencies |
| A bank account | Same day to a few working days; banks close Friday and Saturday | An account in their own name | Large amounts, savings, fees for school or hospital |
| Cash pickup at a bank branch or agent | Often the same day | Their NID and the reference number the sender gives them | Family with neither a wallet nor an account |
The 2.5% government incentive
Bangladesh adds a 2.5% cash incentive to money sent home through legal channels: banks, licensed transfer companies and the exchange houses that partner with them. Nobody applies for it. The receiving bank or wallet adds it when the money arrives, so Tk 20,000 sent becomes Tk 20,500 received. The government said in its June 2026 budget that it will continue.
Limits on wallets
- Up to Tk 2,50,000 can be received in one remittance into a bKash, Nagad or Rocket wallet, under the limit Bangladesh Bank set in December 2023.
- Transfer companies add daily and monthly limits of their own, so a large or frequent sender may need a bank account instead.
- Larger amounts, such as for land, a house or a wedding, belong in a bank account.
What taking the money out as cash costs
Receiving into a wallet is free; taking it out as cash is not. bKash's charges, checked November 2026:
| Where | Charge | On Tk 20,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Remittance cash-out at selected BRAC Bank, City Bank and Q-Cash ATMs | Tk 7 per 1,000 | Tk 140 |
| A Priyo Agent (two agents you choose), up to Tk 50,000 a month | Tk 13.95 per 1,000 | about Tk 279 |
| Any other agent | Tk 18.50 per 1,000 | Tk 370 |
So the same Tk 20,000 can cost Tk 140 or Tk 370 to collect, depending on where you take it out. bKash sets daily and monthly caps on the ATM rate, and charges change, so check the bKash app or dial *247# first. Nagad and Rocket publish their own charges in their apps. If the money will sit in the wallet and be spent by payments, there is no cash-out charge at all.
Why hundi is not worth it
- It is illegal in Bangladesh.
- It earns no 2.5% incentive.
- If the money never arrives there is nobody to complain to and no record that it was sent.
A checklist for the family
- Make sure the wallet or account is in your own name and matches your NID exactly; a mismatch can delay the money.
- Give the sender the exact wallet number or account details, and check them back.
- Wait for the SMS from bKash, Nagad, Rocket or the bank before telling the sender it arrived.
- Never share your PIN or a one-time code, even with someone who says they are from the wallet company. They never ask for it.
- Collect cash at the cheapest place you can reach, using the table above.
Sending from abroad: a guide for each country
- Sending money to Bangladesh from the UK
- Sending money to Bangladesh from the UAE
- Sending money to Bangladesh from the US
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Singapore
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Canada
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Australia
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Kuwait
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Qatar
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Malaysia
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Oman
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Bahrain
- Sending money to Bangladesh from Italy
- Sending money to Bangladesh from the Maldives
Questions people ask
How do I get the 2.5% remittance incentive in Bangladesh?
You do not need to apply. When money arrives through a legal channel, the receiving bank or wallet adds 2.5% automatically.
How much remittance can I receive in bKash?
Up to Tk 2,50,000 in one remittance, under Bangladesh Bank's limit for mobile wallets. Transfer companies may set lower limits of their own.
What is the cheapest way to cash out remittance from bKash?
At the selected BRAC Bank, City Bank and Q-Cash ATMs, where bKash charges Tk 7 per 1,000 for remittance money, against Tk 18.50 at most agents. Check the current rate in the app first.
Do I need documents to receive a large remittance?
Bangladesh Bank dropped the document requirement for the incentive in 2022, but some transfer companies still ask for papers above Tk 5 lakh. Ask the receiving bank before a large transfer.
Where these figures come from
- bKash: remittance cash-out from ATM
- The Daily Star: bKash reduces cash-out charge to Tk 13.95 (July 2026)
- The Business Standard: no document needed for incentive on remittance over Tk 5 lakh (2022)
- The Business Standard: central bank doubles the limit for remittances to wallets (December 2023)
- Dhaka Tribune: government to continue the 2.5% incentive (June 2026)