The National Board of Revenue (“NBR”) introduced the Customs Risk Management Regulations, 2025 to address various economic threats, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as proceeds of crime, illegal financial activities, tax and customs evasion, and transnational organized economic crimes. To implement the regulations, the NBR will establish a dedicated Customs […]

The Lao kip has shown signs of stabilization in its exchange rate against the US dollar and Thai baht in recent months. These two foreign currencies remain the most widely used foreign currencies in the Lao PDR, playing a crucial role in trade and economic transactions. To strengthen the management and stability of foreign currency […]

Per FE Circular No. 34 dated 29 November  2022 and FE Circular Letter No. 11 dated 19 September 2023, mobile financial service providers (“MFSPs”) and payment service providers (“PSPs”) are permitted to repatriate wage earners’ remittances. This is to be done in collaboration with internationally recognized online payment gateway service providers, banks, digital wallets, card […]

The Bangladesh Bank officially launched its “Foreign Investment and Financing” web portal on 6 February 2025. The portal, accessible at https://www.bb.org.bd/feidportal/index.html, is designed to offer comprehensive information and services regarding foreign investment opportunities, financing options, and business initiatives.

On 3 January 2025, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision on the Use of Foreign Currency No. 11/BOL (the “FCU Decision 2025”) to implement and provide further guidelines on the utilization of foreign currency as regulated under the Law on Foreign Currency Management No. 15/NA dated 7 July 2022 and the Order […]

General Understanding of the Lao constitution The Lao Official Gazette published the proposed draft amendment to the Constitution of the Lao PDR on 23 January 2025 (“Draft Amendment”), inviting public feedback and consultation. The most recent revision occurred in 2015, so the current Constitution has been in effect for a decade. The Constitution of the […]

Local companies operating star-rated hotels in Bangladesh often seek approval from the BB for foreign remittances related to services that fall outside the guidelines provided by the BIDA. To support the hotel and tourism industry, the BB has decided to simplify the process for the approval of such remittances, which are essential to hotel operations. […]

The key points of these guidelines issued by the Bangladesh Bank (“BB”) are as follows: A. Establishment and reporting Before commencing operations, joint venture companies (“JVCAs”) with non-resident partners must obtain approval from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (“BIDA”). Additionally, they must inform the BB’s Foreign Exchange Investment Department (“FEID”) within 30 days of obtaining […]

To provide wider flexibility, the Bangladesh Bank has withdrawn the prescribed rate of interest or profit on Resident Foreign Currency Deposit accounts. Thus, authorized dealers can now set the rate of interest/profit as they deem appropriate.

Under this circular, authorized dealers (“ADs”) are directed to review their current procedure for remittances related to bandwidth and associated service imports by local businesses, which presently require specific approvals from the Bangladesh Bank on a case-by-case basis. ADs may now facilitate remittances for bandwidth service imports by Bangladeshi-incorporated business entities, provided the following requirements […]

The Monetary Policy Committee has decided to continue the Bangladesh Bank’s contractionary measures until the inflation target is met. As a result, the overnight repo policy rate has been raised by 50 basis points, increasing from 9.50% to 10.00%. To improve liquidity management by banks, the Standing Lending Facility upper limit has also been increased […]

Aiming to streamline payment processes, the Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to refrain from using traditional methods for making direct payments to lenders in countries that are members of the Asian Clearing Union (“ACU”). The ACU mechanism is a payment arrangement for settling intraregional transactions among eight countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, […]

As outlined in a recent circular, the Bangladesh Bank has raised the policy rate, also known as the repo rate, by 50 basis points to 9.50%, in an effort to curb double-digit inflation. This new rate took effect on Wednesday, 25 September 2024. Consequently, the cost of borrowing for banks from the central bank will […]

Although the minimum wage was raised just over a year ago, the government of the Lao PDR, through the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (“MLSW”), issued Notice No. 3534/LSW on 27 September 2024, announcing a new increase in the monthly minimum wage effective 1 October 2024. The reason for the sudden increase is to […]

On 13 August 2024, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (“MLSW”) issued Notice No. 2721/MLSW (“MLSW Notice”) to further detail its role as delegated by Article 2 (2.9) of Prime Minister Order No. 10/PM dated 14 July 2023 (“PM Order”) on Foreign Currency Management. Article 2 (2.9) states that the MLSW is responsible for […]

To provide loans securely , it is mandatory to collect, verify, and store the borrower’s and guarantor’s details, including their thumbprints, using the National Identity Card (“NID”) database. However, in certain cases thumbprints cannot be verified via the NID database, such as those involving foreign nationals, expatriate Bangladeshis, and individuals with physical disabilities. Special instructions […]

To ensure the smooth operation of offshore banking operations (“OBOs”), the Bangladesh Bank has decided that OBOs can now borrow up to 30% of their regulatory capital (including current outstanding amounts) from their domestic banking units. Additionally, OBOs with borrowings exceeding this 30% limit must adjust their borrowings to come into compliance by 31 December […]

On 7 August 2024, the CBM issued Notification No. 37/2024 to change the percentage of export earnings that must be converted into Myanmar Kyat. Under prior Notification No. 26/2023 dated 6 December 2023, exporters were required to convert 35 percent of their export earnings into Myanmar Kyat at the CBM’s reference exchange rate. Now, the […]

On 4 July 2024, the Bangladesh National Parliament passed the Payment and Settlement System Act, 2024. This legislation aims to mitigate risks in financial transactions and safeguard consumer interests by regulating, integrating, and overseeing payment, clearing, and settlement systems. The act will enter into effect when the government publishes it in the official gazette. The […]

Prepaid instruments (PIs), such as cash vouchers, gift cards, and wallets, are integral to the digital payment ecosystem, offering consumers convenient and secure transaction methods. With that in mind, the Bangladesh Bank has established guidelines to regulate the issuance of PIs by non-payment system entities. The aim is to discipline prepaid transactions used as marketing […]