Foreign workers in Bangladesh must receive salaries through local bank accounts: Bangladesh Bank

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed all scheduled banks to facilitate bank account opening for foreign nationals with valid and up-to-date work permits from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

In a circular issued today, the central bank said foreign employees, particularly those working under the A3 visa category, must receive their salaries and allowances through local bank accounts.

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The A3 visa is issued to specialists, consultants and workers employed on projects under bilateral or multilateral agreements.

Foreign nationals working in Bangladesh under other employment visa categories are also required to receive their salaries through bank accounts, BB said.

Banks have been instructed to process account-opening applications under their Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, provided the applicants have valid and up-to-date work permits.

According to BIDA’s annual report, the agency issued 5,491 new work permits and approved 10,407 extensions in fiscal year 2024-25. In the previous fiscal year, it issued 5,761 new permits and approved 9,947 extensions.