বুধবার, ২৪ জুন ২০২৬, ০১:৪০ পূর্বাহ্ন
DHAKA, June 23, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) has introduced a new account facility, the Non-Resident Convertible Taka Account (NRCTA), aimed at encouraging greater participation of Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in the country’s economy by providing a flexible and fully repatriable investment
and savings platform.
The central bank today issued the directive under the provisions of the Offshore Banking Act, 2024 and the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. The new regulations came into effect immediately.
Under the circular, NRBs will be allowed to open and maintain NRCTAs with Offshore Banking Units (OBUs) of scheduled banks in Bangladesh.
The accounts may be operated as savings, current or fixed deposit accounts and will carry market-based interest or profit rates while being denominated in local currency.
The initiative is intended to broaden offshore banking operations, facilitate foreign exchange inflows and create additional avenues for NRBs to invest and manage funds in Bangladesh while retaining the right to convert and repatriate their money abroad, the BB said.
The central bank specified that funds credited to NRCTAs may originate from inward remittances, transfers from foreign currency accounts maintained by non-residents, transfers from other NRCTAs, accrued interest or profits, and repatriable proceeds from foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and other Bangladesh Bank-approved investments.
Refunds of share subscriptions and other authorized payments may also be credited to the accounts.
According to the circular, both the principal amount and accrued earnings held in NRCTAs will be freely repatriable.
Account holders will be able to use the funds for legitimate local payments, transfers to other non-resident accounts, conversion into foreign currency accounts, and investments in shares and other approved investment instruments.
In a significant move, the central bank has authorized OBUs to utilize Taka deposits mobilized through NRCTAs for providing Taka-denominated loans toType A industrial enterprises operating in Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Economic Zones (EZs) and Hi-Tech Parks.
The financing will be limited to current account expenditures such as salaries, wages and utility bills, while loan repayments must be madexclusively from export proceeds.
The circular also permits Domestic Banking Units (DBUs) to extend loans against NRCTA deposits kept under lien for personal and business purposes.
However, such financing cannot be used for relending, agricultural or plantation activities, or real estate business ventures.
Eligible uses include non-repatriable direct investments in Bangladesh and the purchase of residential property for the account holder’s own use.
Bangladesh Bank imposed strict safeguards, stating that no direct or indirect foreign exchange benefit may be provided to a depositor in exchange for pledging NRCTA deposits.
Repayment of loans secured against these deposits must be made either through adjustment of the pledged deposits or through fresh inward remittances routedvia formal banking channels.
To ensure transparency and financial discipline, the central bank directed banks to maintain separate accounting of funds mobilized through NRCTAs and comply fully with Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements, as well as
applicable tax regulations.
The circular also encourages digital banking services, asking OBUs to facilitate online account opening and electronic banking facilities.
Banks intending to launch such services will be required to inform Bangladesh Bank about their product features and risk management arrangementsbeforehand.
The directive was signed by Md. Harun-Ar-Rashid, Director of the Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 (FEPD-1) of Bangladesh Bank.
