Bangladeshi Credit Card Spending Abroad Drops Sharply, India Sees Steep 73% Decline
In February 2025, Bangladeshi citizens spent Tk 3.83 billion abroad using credit cards, according to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank. This marks a 13.93% drop compared to January’s figure of Tk 4.45 billion and a notable year-on-year decrease from Tk 4.99 billion in February 2024.
One of the most dramatic shifts occurred in India, which once held the top position for Bangladeshi credit card usage abroad. Spending in India fell by 73.15% compared to the same month last year, with only Tk 290 million spent in February 2025 — a sharp decline from Tk 1.08 billion in February 2024. India has now dropped to sixth place on the list of foreign destinations for Bangladeshi cardholders.
The United States continues to top the chart, with Tk 520 million spent there in February. Thailand came in second at Tk 460 million, followed by Singapore (Tk 390 million), and both Malaysia and the United Kingdom at Tk 300 million each. While Singapore saw a small increase in spending, other destinations witnessed moderate declines.
The fall in India-bound spending is largely attributed to reduced travel following the July 2024 political shift, which saw India introduce visa restrictions after the change in Bangladesh’s government. This led to a significant decrease in cross-border visits and, subsequently, financial transactions in India by Bangladeshis. Back in June and July 2024, monthly card spending in India had reached Tk 920 million and Tk 730 million respectively.
A senior Bangladesh Bank official confirmed that the drop in Indian transactions correlates with fewer Bangladeshi travelers choosing India. Instead, destinations like Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia are becoming increasingly popular.
The report also provides insights into foreign nationals using credit cards inside Bangladesh. In February, foreign visitors spent Tk 2.68 billion — a 6.35% increase from January’s Tk 2.52 billion. Among them, U.S. nationals led the list with Tk 880 million, followed by UK citizens (Tk 270 million) and Indian nationals (Tk 160 million).