Bangladeshi credit card usage drops 73pc in India

Dhaka: The drop in credit card transactions by Bangladeshi travelers in India, being observed since the 2024 July uprising, has increased further. 

In February 2025, India dropped to sixth place among foreign destinations, with transactions falling 73.15 percent, compared to the same period last year. 

The United States still remains the top destination for Bangladeshi credit card usage, followed by Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.

These findings came forth through a monthly report issued by Bangladesh Bank, titled “An Overview of Credit Card Usage Pattern Within and Outside Bangladesh.”

According to the report, Bangladeshis spent BDT 3.83 billion abroad using credit cards in February 2025.

The figure was BDT 4.45 billion in January, representing a month-on-month decrease of 13.93 percent in foreign spending via credit cards.

In contrast, Bangladeshis spent BDT 4.99 billion abroad through credit cards in February 2024.

Among all foreign destinations, the highest amount was spent in the United States in February this year—BDT 520 million. The figure was BDT 680 million in January.

Thailand ranked second, where Bangladeshis spent BDT 460 million in February. In January 2025, Bangladeshis spent BDT 640 million.

Singapore saw an increase in credit card spending by Bangladeshis in February, with expenditures rising by BDT 10 million to a total of BDT 390 million.

Malaysia, however, witnessed a decline. Bangladeshis spent BDT 300 million there in February, down from BDT 350 million in January. With that, the country has secured the fourth position.

The United Kingdom matched Malaysia in February, with Bangladeshi credit card spending totalling BDT 300 million, compared to BDT 330 million in January.

India, now in sixth place, saw spending by Bangladeshi citizens fall to BDT 290 million in February. In January, the figure stood at BDT 320 million.

This marks a drastic shift from a year ago, when Bangladeshis spent more than three times that amount in India using credit cards. In February 2024, the total reached BDT 1.08 billion.

Bangladesh Bank, which began publishing this data in 2023, had shown India as the top destination for Bangladeshi credit card usage.

The United States, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia had trailed behind. That pattern held steady until July 2024.

India imposed visa restrictions following the July uprising that led to the ousting of the Awami League government.

As a result, travel from Bangladesh to India has fallen significantly, triggering a drop in credit card usage in the neighboring country.

In July of last year, Bangladeshis spent BDT 730 million on credit cards in India.

The month prior, in June, the figure was even higher at BDT 920 million.

The central bank’s report also includes data on foreign nationals using credit cards while visiting Bangladesh.

In February, foreign citizens spent BDT 2.68 billion in Bangladesh through credit card transactions. That figure stood at BDT 2.52 billion in January.

This marks a 6.35 percent increase in foreign spending within Bangladesh over a single month.

Here too, the United States ranks first.

American citizens spent BDT 880 million in Bangladesh.

The United Kingdom follows, with its citizens spending BDT 270 million.

India comes in third, with Indian travelers spending BDT 160 million in Bangladesh using credit cards.

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