Travelers, beware! Exchanging currency for your next international adventure just got a lot clearer—and potentially less expensive. But here's where it gets controversial: Bangladesh Bank (BB) has stepped in to cap the passport endorsement fee charged by money changers at Tk300, sparking debates about whether this move truly benefits travelers or limits business flexibility. Let’s dive into the details and uncover what this means for you.
In a bid to protect travelers from excessive fees and ensure transparency, Bangladesh Bank has issued a new circular effective January 7, 2026. This regulation sets a flat maximum fee of Tk300 for passport endorsement, regardless of the amount of foreign currency being exchanged. And this is the part most people miss: the fee is not just a random number—it’s part of a broader effort to standardize practices under the Guidelines for Foreign Exchange Transactions (GFET)-2018.
Under these guidelines, licensed money changers are already authorized to sell foreign currency notes, coins, and traveler’s checks to Bangladeshi residents for their annual private travel allowance. Each transaction must be meticulously recorded in the traveler’s passport and air ticket, verified with the official seal and signature of the money changer’s authorized staff. But now, with the new fee cap, the process becomes even more structured.
To enforce this, the central bank has introduced several mandatory requirements. Money changers must prominently display the Tk300 endorsement fee within their premises, issue a written receipt for every fee collected, and maintain detailed records for auditing and regulatory purposes. These measures aim to eliminate ambiguity and prevent overcharging, ensuring travelers pay a fair and consistent fee.
Signed by Monoar Uddin Ahmed, Director of FEPD-2, the circular emphasizes that all other instructions related to foreign exchange transactions remain unchanged. The focus here is solely on streamlining the endorsement process and protecting travelers from arbitrary charges.
But here’s the question that’s dividing opinions: Is a one-size-fits-all fee structure truly fair? While travelers may applaud the predictability, some argue that it could stifle competition among money changers. What do you think? Does this regulation strike the right balance, or does it go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear your perspective!
