Regulatory Alerts2026-05-24
FEPD-2 Circular No. 3: Foreign Currency Accounts of Bangladeshi Shipping Companies and Airlines
Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department-2 has directed authorized dealer banks to convert foreign currency account balances of Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines into interest-bearing renewable term deposits. These deposits must be held in approved currencies with terms aligned to standard banking practices, and any accrued interest or profit must be disbursed in Bangladeshi Taka at the prevailing spot rate. This directive aims to capitalize on the growing global operational revenues of these entities while encouraging inward remittances, leaving all other existing foreign exchange regulations unchanged.
Foreign Exchange Policy Department-2 Bangladesh Bank Head Office Dhaka www.bb.org.bd FEPD-2 Circular No-03 Date: May 24, 2026 All Authorized Dealers in Foreign Exchange in Bangladesh Dear Sirs, Foreign currency accounts of Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines. Please refer to SPA Circular No- 2, Dated-10/04/2023 of Foreign Exchange Operation Department regarding foreign currency accounts in the names of Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines. Authorized Dealer (AD) banks can open foreign currency (FC) accounts in the names of Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines having global operations. In this regard the operational modalities of the FC accounts are articulated in the mentioned circular. 02. In view of growing income from global operations by Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines and to promote inward remittance by Bangladeshi shipping companies and airlines, it has been decided that the balance of the FC accounts of such companies may be kept as interest/profit bearing renewable FC term deposits with the ADs concerned, in approved currencies. Periods of such term deposits may be determined in accordance with normal banking practices. Interest/profit on such deposits may be allowed at rates based on banker-customer relationship for the relevant currency but such interest/profit must be payable in local currency (BDT) using spot rate. 03. Other relevant instructions in this regard shall remain unchanged. Please bring the contents of this circular to the notice of all your relevant clientele. Yours faithfully, (Md. Bayazid Sarker) Director (FEPD-2) Phone: 9530119