Currency in Bangladesh
The complete Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) travel guide
The Bangladeshi Taka (BDT, symbol ৳) is the official currency of Bangladesh. Issued by Bangladesh Bank, banknotes come in ৳2, ৳5, ৳10, ৳20, ৳50, ৳100, ৳200, ৳500, and ৳1,000 denominations; coins in 1, 2, and 5 taka (paisa subdivisions are largely obsolete). Bangladesh is the world's seventh-largest remittance recipient, receiving over $22 billion annually from a ~13 million-strong diaspora primarily in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK. The taka has steadily depreciated against USD — from 80 (2018) to 120+ (2025) — under managed-float policy.
Cash, cards, and ATMs in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a cash-first country, especially outside Dhaka and Chittagong. Visa and Mastercard work at international-chain hotels (Westin Dhaka, Radisson, Le Meridien), upscale restaurants, and major retailers. Amex is rarely accepted. ATMs at Dutch-Bangla Bank, BRAC Bank, Eastern Bank, and Standard Chartered branches accept foreign cards with per-transaction limits of ৳20,000–30,000 (~$170–250) and fees of ৳200–400 per withdrawal. bKash and Nagad (local mobile-money services) dominate person-to-person payments for Bangladeshis but require local accounts. Tap-to-pay is uncommon — chip-and-PIN is standard at retailers.
Tipping culture in Bangladesh
Tipping ("baksheesh") in Bangladesh is appreciated but not strictly expected. Restaurants: 10% is standard at sit-down restaurants where service charge isn't already included (a 10% "service charge" plus 7.5% VAT is added at upscale restaurants). Taxis/CNG (auto-rickshaws): no formal tipping; round up to nearest ৳50–100. Hotels: ৳100–300 per bag for porters at international chains; ৳100–200 per night for housekeeping. Tour guides at Sundarbans/Cox's Bazar: ৳1,000–3,000 per person per day. Small baksheesh is appreciated for many service interactions — keep small bills (৳20, ৳50, ৳100) handy.
Best way to get Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
For USD-to-BDT, multi-currency cards (Wise, Remitly) deliver rates within 1–2% of the official market rate. Bangladesh's parallel market (kerb rate) historically had 5-15% premiums over the official rate during foreign-reserve stress periods — narrowed significantly in 2024-2025 reforms. Avoid Dhaka Shahjalal (DAC) airport currency exchange counters — spreads of 5–8% above mid-market are common. Authorized currency exchange houses in central Dhaka (Gulshan, Banani) offer competitive in-person rates. For diaspora-to-Bangladesh remittances, the Bangladesh Bank offers a 2.5% government cash incentive on official remittances received through legal banking channels — making bank-channeled transfers attractive vs. informal hundi networks.
Practical money tips for Bangladesh
- •Carry small denominations (৳20, ৳50, ৳100) — many small shops and CNG drivers can't change ৳500 or ৳1,000 notes
- •Get a tourist SIM card on arrival (Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink) — 7-30 day plans available for ৳200–800
- •Use Uber, Pathao, or InDriver for ride-hailing in Dhaka — much cheaper and safer than street CNGs (which have no meters)
- •VAT (typically 15% on most goods) and service charge (10%) are added at upscale restaurants — already included in displayed totals
- •Bangladesh plug types A, C, D, G (mixed — varies by venue); voltage 220V/50Hz — pack universal adapter
- •Friday is a half-workday for many offices; Friday-Saturday is the weekend; Sunday is a working day
- •Dhaka traffic is among the world's worst — budget 2-3x travel time during peak hours (8-11am and 4-9pm)
Common money scams to avoid in Bangladesh
Common tourist money scams in Bangladesh include: rigged CNG (auto-rickshaw) fares for foreigners (always agree on price BEFORE the ride or use Uber/Pathao); aggressive baby-formula and milk-powder shop touts in Dhaka tourist districts pressuring purchases of "tax-free for tourists" goods (no such scheme exists); fake "tour guide" offers near Lalbagh Fort or Ahsan Manzil that turn into shopping-stop pressure; counterfeit ৳500 and ৳1,000 notes in change at money changers (check the watermark, security thread, and intaglio printing); and over-priced "Sundarbans tiger safari" packages sold by hotel concierges (book through licensed tour operators like Bengal Tours or Pugmark).
Frequently asked questions
Can I use US dollars in Bangladesh?
Some tourist businesses in Dhaka accept USD at terrible rates (5–10% loss). Always convert to BDT. Use an authorized currency exchange house or a Wise card for the best rates. Convert at a bank-branch ATM on arrival rather than airport currency counters.
How much cash should I bring to Bangladesh?
Plan on ৳1,500–3,500 ($12–30) per day in cash for meals, CNGs, tips, and small purchases. With cards accepted at hotels and upscale restaurants, your card spend covers the rest. Bangladeshi ATMs cap foreign-card withdrawals at ৳20,000–30,000 per transaction.
What's the cheapest way to send money to Bangladesh?
For diaspora-to-Bangladesh remittances, official banking channels (Wise, Remitly, BRAC Saajan, City Bank NA partnerships) qualify for the 2.5% Bangladesh Bank government cash incentive — adding to your effective exchange rate. For non-incentive transfers, Wise typically wins on raw cost by 0.5-1.5%. Informal hundi networks remain prevalent but lack legal recourse.
Why does the Bangladeshi Taka keep depreciating?
Multiple compounding factors: chronic trade deficit (Bangladesh imports raw materials, machinery, oil; exports mainly garments), foreign reserves stress in 2022-2024 from global commodity shocks, IMF program conditions requiring exchange-rate flexibility, and limited capital-account openness. USD/BDT has gone from 80 (2018) to 120+ (2025) — managed depreciation rather than market collapse.
What is bKash?
bKash is Bangladesh's dominant mobile-money service — used by over 70 million Bangladeshis for person-to-person payments, bill payments, and increasingly merchant payments. It requires a Bangladeshi NID (national ID) and SIM, so tourists typically can't open accounts. International remittances can be received via bKash from partners like Wise, MoneyGram, and Western Union for direct mobile-wallet credit.
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Exchange rates refresh hourly from Frankfurter (European Central Bank reference data). Travel money information was compiled in 2026 and reflects current cash/card culture, tipping norms, and common scam patterns.