BB Permits Int'l Cards for Overseas Tuition Fee Payments
- Authorised Dealer (AD) banks can now issue international debit, prepaid, or credit cards for education expenses.
- Education payments via international cards will operate independently outside standard annual travel quotas.
- Cards can be registered either under the student's name or their designated financial sponsor/parent.
DHAKA, August 10, 2026: In a significant policy relaxation aimed at streamlining higher education expenses abroad, Bangladesh Bank has allowed the issuance and use of international cards for paying foreign university tuition fees and admission charges.
The central bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department officially released a circular detailing the framework today (August 10).
Under the new directive, Authorised Dealer (AD) banks are permitted to issue international debit, prepaid, or credit cards in the name of the prospective student or their financial sponsor. Cardholders can utilize these payment rails to clear tuition fees, application charges, and other verified educational overheads directly to foreign academic institutions and digital portals.
Importantly, the central bank clarified that foreign currency used for educational expenses will be treated separately. These transactions will not be deducted from or adjusted against the individual's existing annual personal travel quota or standard foreign exchange allowances.
However, card issuers and users must strictly comply with existing foreign exchange regulations and verification measures. AD banks are required to maintain detailed records for each educational transaction and report them using designated purpose codes to Bangladesh Bank.
This initiative provides an accessible, efficient alternative to conventional bank drafts and telegraphic transfers, easing the financial onboarding process for thousands of Bangladeshi students heading abroad each year.
//DBTech/JNO/MSI//
