2024-02-20 06:28:11
Bangladeshis spent more than Tk 579 crore in credit card transactions for various goods and services last December. More than half of it or 54.49 percent transacted in India, United States, United Arab Emirates and Thailand.
A large number of Bangladeshis visit India every month for travel and medical treatment. In recent times, the travel of Bangladeshis to the country has increased significantly. Due to this reason, credit card of Bangladeshis is mostly used in India. Last December, Bangladeshis spent Tk 115.6 million using credit cards in the neighboring country, which was Tk 87 crore in November. Similarly, Bangladeshis spent Tk 73 crore 20 lakh on credit cards in the US in December, which was Tk 73 crore 10 lakh in November. And in the Middle Eastern country of the United Arab Emirates, Bangladeshis spent Tk 59.4 million on credit cards in December, which was Tk 41.4 million in November.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshis in Thailand spent Tk 58.4 million on credit cards in December, which was Tk 40.4 million in November.
This information has been obtained from the latest report on credit card usage of Bangladesh Bank.
Bangladesh Bank’s statistics department has prepared the report with the data of 43 banks and 1 financial institution in the country that issue credit cards. Bangladesh Bank prepares this report on monthly basis. The report highlights credit card usage of Bangladeshi nationals within the country and abroad and foreign nationals within the country.
According to the Central Bank report, Bangladeshis spend more than three times the money that foreigners spend on credit cards in Bangladesh in different countries of the world. Last December, foreigners visiting or living in Bangladesh spent Tk 184 crore on credit cards. At the same time, Bangladeshis spent foreign currency equivalent to Tk 579 crore on credit cards abroad.
Last December, spending on credit cards at home and abroad increased compared to the previous month. However, the use of credit cards by foreigners in the country has decreased. Foreigners came to Bangladesh and spent Tk 184 crore on credit cards in December, which was Tk 194 crore in November. Bangladeshis have increased the use of credit cards by going abroad. Bangladeshis spent Tk 579 crore on credit cards abroad in December, which was Tk 487 crore in November. That is, the spending of Bangladeshis through credit cards abroad in one month has increased by Tk 92 crore or 18.87 percent.
Officials of Bangladesh Bank said that a Bangladeshi citizen can spend foreign currency equivalent to 12 thousand dollars every year by going abroad. You can spend this money through cards, and you can also take cash dollars with you when you go abroad. However, if you want to make a dollar payment through the card, you have the opportunity to spend up to 300 dollars at a time.
Pointing out that customers are interested in dollar payment through cards as the price of cash dollars is high in the open market, this official said, now if you want to buy cash dollars from the country’s curb market, you have to spend 122 to 124 taka. In most of the banks, electronic dollars can be bought for Tk 114-115 and can be spent through card. Due to these reasons, everyone is interested in card payments.
Use of credit cards in the country
In addition to abroad, the use of credit cards in the country also increased last December. Last December, 2 thousand 674 crore rupees were spent on credit cards in the country. 2 thousand 540 crores were spent in November, as a result of which the expenditure using credit cards within the country increased by 134 crores in a month.