PoriPurno News Desk | July 28, 2025
Between the fiscal years 2019–20 and 2023–24, the Government of Bangladesh has disbursed an estimated Tk 25,000 crore in remittance incentives aimed at encouraging the use of formal banking channels and strengthening the country’s foreign currency reserves. While this initiative was designed to reward individuals sending legitimate income through banking systems—including overseas workers, freelancers, YouTubers, AdSense users, and remote professionals—many actual contributors claim they have been left empty-handed.
As questions grow around the real beneficiaries of this massive incentive scheme, concerns are mounting over potential misappropriation, fake intermediaries, and systemic exclusion of genuine earners.
The Remittance Incentive Framework: An Overview
The remittance incentive program was launched on July 1, 2019, offering a 2% cash incentive on remittance sent via formal channels. This was later increased to 2.5% in January 2022, and the incentive rate remains unchanged today.
During this five-year period, Bangladesh received a total of $109.55 billion in remittances. Year-wise remittance inflow and government expenditure on incentives are as follows:
| Fiscal Year | Remittance Inflow (USD) | Govt. Incentive Paid (Tk) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | $18.20 billion | Tk 3,060 crore |
| 2020–21 | $24.78 billion | Tk 4,200 crore |
| 2021–22 | $21.03 billion | Tk 4,800 crore |
| 2022–23 | $21.61 billion | Tk 5,400 crore |
| 2023–24 | $23.93 billion | Tk 6,000 crore |
| Total | $109.55 billion | ~Tk 25,000 crore |
Despite this massive budget, a large number of freelancers and digital professionals have reportedly failed to receive any incentive—even for receiving as little as $100 through bank channels.
Where Did the Money Go?
While freelancers using official banking channels are legally entitled to receive incentives on every dollar they earn, many allege that they have not received a single taka in benefit. This raises a critical question: If freelancers didn’t receive their share, who did?
Suspicious Marketplaces and Shell Companies
The government had reportedly approved 55 online marketplaces as eligible remittance platforms for the incentive scheme. However, investigations reveal that several fake or non-functional (“shell”) companies were included in this list. Notable among them:
- Cloudpeeps
- Publoft
Sources claim these platforms were used to legitimize black money, falsely presented as freelance income. In doing so, these entities may have collected government incentives, despite not representing real freelancers.
The process by which these marketplaces were shortlisted remains opaque, raising questions about due diligence, responsibility, and accountability.
BFDS and the “Freelancer ID” Controversy
The Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS) emerged in 2020, a year after the incentive program began. Despite its later formation, it played a significant role in the operational structure of disbursing incentives.
BFDS introduced a “Freelancer ID card”, with an annual fee of Tk 1,500, claiming it was necessary for receiving incentives. But many who obtained the card report never receiving any benefit.
Critics argue that:
- The ID card system created barriers rather than facilitating access to incentives.
- Freelancers were excluded from the benefits unless affiliated with specific organizations.
- The model encouraged centralization of funds to a limited group while the larger freelancer community remained ignored.
- Freelancers are now being taxed at 10%, despite not receiving the state-promised incentives.
Evidence of Large-Scale Misallocation
According to insider reports from at least one major commercial bank, incentive amounts totaling several crores were processed under single freelancer accounts. However, the actual account holders never received any funds.
This points to systemic leakage, where:
- Fake accounts, shell companies, or intermediary entities possibly siphoned off funds
- Certain banks and institutional actors may have colluded in misappropriation
- BFDS and similar groups may have facilitated middleman-based fund extraction
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Call for Transparency and Justice
Stakeholders and digital professionals are demanding:
- A neutral, independent investigation to assess the real distribution of remittance incentives.
- Automatic disbursement of incentives to any freelancer, YouTuber, or remote worker who brings in income through legal banking channels.
- A full audit of BFDS, its role, affiliations, and finances.
- Transparent tracking of both incentive and tax records to ensure freelancers are not doubly penalized.
Conclusion: Freelancers Deserve Better
Bangladeshi freelancers have played a critical role in earning and remitting foreign currency through lawful means, directly strengthening the national reserve. Despite that, they find themselves systematically excluded from state-sponsored benefits while facing growing taxation and bureaucratic obstacles.
The question remains unanswered:
Where is the freelancers’ share of the Tk 25,000 crore?
Who is accountable for this exclusion?
The time has come for reform, recognition, and justice.
Tk 25,000 Crore Disbursed—but Freelancers Got Nothing?
Uncover the truth behind Bangladesh’s remittance incentive scheme. Who really got the money, and why are digital earners left out?Read the full investigative report now at PoriPurno.com — where real stories matter.
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