Bangladeshi Students, Professionals Can Now Pay Overseas Course Fees in Dollars

In a major boost for skill development, Bangladeshi students and professionals can now remit dollars directly to foreign institutions for exams and certifications, effective immediately. The Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department (FEPD) issued a circular on 20 May, enabling payments for courses like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Equity Market Analyst (CEMA), and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) through banks.

“This facility simplifies access to global education and professional qualifications,” a senior central bank official said. No prior approval from the Bangladesh Bank is needed for these transactions. Payments must be made to the foreign institution’s account, with applicable taxes deducted.

The circular specifies that individuals can enroll in one correspondence course at a time, with remittances processed via international card channels. All transactions for a single course must go through one bank branch, which will maintain a dedicated file for each student, including all relevant documents, for inspection by the Bangladesh Bank.