Foreign Exchange Implications

FOREX Overview

On March 24, 1994 the Bangladeshi Taka was declared convertible for current account transactions in terms of Article VIII of the IMF Articles of Agreement.
Other than a few reserved sectors foreign investors are free to make investments in Bangladesh in industrial enterprises either wholly owned or in collaboration with local investors.
Non-residents (individual & institutions) are free to invest in shares listed on local stock exchanges with foreign exchange brought into Bangladesh.
Shares in private limited companies may also be allotted to foreign investors.
Non-resident shareholders can freely transfer shares to other non-residents.
There are strict controls on outward remittance from Bangladesh and most outward remittance is restricted other than a few routes as listed below.

Companies can freely remit post-tax dividends to non-resident (foreign) shareholders subject to application to be made to local bank with all documents/information as stipulated by Bangladesh Bank.
Branches of foreign firms and companies can also freely remit profits to the parent company subject to application to be made to local bank with all documents/information as stipulated by Bangladesh Bank and the BIDA.
Dividend income and capital gains on shares listed on a stock exchange can be freely remitted if such investment was made through a Non-Resident Investors Taka Account.
Remittance of sale proceeds of private limited companies require prior central bank approval. Dividend remittance to foreign shareholder does not require prior approval.

Such fees can be remitted abroad by applying to BIDA.
Companies wishing to affect such remittances will need to first be registered with BIDA.
Local banks will allow payment upon furnishing BIDA approval on specific terms.

Such fees may be remitted without prior approval of Bangladesh Bank
The amount of remittance is restricted to 1% of annual sales as declared in the income tax return of the previous

Foreigners employed in Bangladesh are allowed to remit up to 75% of earned net income at any time all over the year subject to availability of fund in the bank accounts. The term 'net income' in this context signifies gross income of the applicant less all compulsory deductions such as income tax, provident fund and pension fund, house rent and other deductions which are of a fixed nature.