The outflow of foreign exchange, excluding imports, rose 33 percent to US$1,659 in the first 11 months of FY22 from $1246 during the same period of the previous fiscal, official sources said.
The dollar outflow took place on accounts of expenses for traveling, education, medical treatment, information service and outward remittance, the sources at the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.
Bangladesh nations spent $337.3 million in foreign tours in the first eleven months of fiscal 2021-2022, which was $162.6 million during the same period of fiscal 2020-2021.
Zulfikar Hossain, proprietor of Rafida Tours and Travels, told The News Times that the number of Bangladeshis traveling abroad increased significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic started easing.
A large number of people travelled to Thailand, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai since late 2021.
According to BB sources, Bangladeshis spent $2.9 million for medical treatment abroad between July, 2021 and May, 22, as against $1.7 million spent during the same period of FY21.
A large number of patients with critical diseases also visited Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Tamil Nadu for better diagnosis and treatment of their diseases during the time, Julfiker said.
Bangladeshi students spent $377.2 million for study abroad first eleven months of FY22, compared to $243.1 million spent during the corresponding period of FY21.
Total outward remittance in the first eleven months of FY22 was $106.5 million, which was $93.6 million in the same period of FY21.
The remittances were mostly sent by foreigners working in the RMG sector, IT sector and mega projects.
BB statistics showed that $104.3 million was spent to buy technology and information services during the period under review, as against $104.7 million during the corresponding period of FY21.
Besides, $730.8 million was spent for purposes of different business services in between July’21 and May’22, against $ 640.8 million spent during the same period of the previous fiscal.
