NRB Guide: How to Invest in the Bangladesh Stock Market from Abroad
Living in Dubai, London, New York or Kuala Lumpur doesn’t stop you from owning shares in Bangladeshi companies. Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) can invest on the Dhaka Stock Exchange from abroad, legally and with a clear route to bring money home. This guide covers who qualifies, which accounts you need, how money goes in and comes back out, and how to manage it all from your phone.
Who counts as an NRB?
Under the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission’s (BSEC) Public Offer of Equity Securities Rules, 2025, an NRB is a citizen of Bangladesh living abroad. That includes dual citizens who hold a valid Bangladeshi passport, and foreign passport holders whose passports carry the required Bangladesh embassy endorsement.
In practice, if you are a Bangladeshi working, studying or settled overseas, you can open an NRB investment account.
The accounts you need
To invest from abroad you need two things: a BO (Beneficiary Owner) account, which holds your shares at the central depository (CDBL), and a bank account that funds your trades and receives your money back. Which bank account you use decides how easily your money can leave Bangladesh later.
NRB BO account
An NRB BO account is a BO account flagged as non-resident. It is opened through a depository participant such as Mika Securities and is linked to your trading account with the broker.
NITA: Non-resident Investor’s Taka Account
A NITA is a special taka account that Bangladesh Bank allows banks to open for non-resident investors. Its purpose is investing in the capital market. According to banks offering NITAs under Bangladesh Bank guidelines, it:
- is opened at a bank’s authorised dealer (AD) branch;
- is funded by foreign remittance through normal banking channels, or by transfer from your own foreign currency (FC) account in Bangladesh;
- is used to buy and sell listed securities through a stock exchange member broker;
- allows principal, dividends and capital gains to be sent back abroad on your instruction.
Foreign currency (FC) account
Many NRBs also hold an FC account in Bangladesh to receive remittances. Mika’s NRB service uses the FC account for incoming funds and for NRB IPO applications, and the NITA for secondary-market trading. A custodian bank holds the shares, settles trades and arranges repatriation.
Repatriable vs non-repatriable funds
This is the most important choice you will make.
| Route | How it is funded | Can money go back abroad? |
|---|---|---|
| NITA with a custodian bank | Remittance through banking channels or your FC account | Yes. Capital, dividends and gains can be repatriated, subject to tax and Bangladesh Bank rules |
| BO linked to an ordinary Bangladeshi bank account | Taka already in Bangladesh, or remittance into a local account | Not freely. Funds generally stay in Bangladesh; repatriation rules differ |
If you may want your money abroad again, use the NITA route. If you are investing taka you will spend in Bangladesh anyway, such as support for family or a future property purchase, the simpler local-account route may be enough. Our NRB team can help you decide.
Documents you will need
In 2023 Bangladesh Bank simplified the paperwork for NRBs opening NITAs. Exact lists vary slightly by bank, but expect to provide:
- Your passport copy (and dual-nationality endorsement if you hold a foreign passport)
- Visa, work permit, residence card or other proof of residence abroad
- Proof of address
- Proof of a reliable source of income
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Nominee details: nominee’s passport or national ID copy and photograph
- Your bank account details (NITA/FC or local account)
For the NITA route you will also sign the custodian bank’s forms, including the custodian agreement and a FATCA form. Documents signed abroad may need attestation by the Bangladesh embassy or high commission. If you want someone at home to operate the account, you can add a power of attorney.
Opening your account remotely
You do not have to fly home to open an account. Start your BO account online at onlineboopen.mikasecurities.net. You upload your documents and complete identity verification digitally (e-KYC). Our NRB team then guides you through the custodian bank and NITA paperwork by email and WhatsApp, and can introduce you to a partner custodian bank.
Full details of both routes are on our NRB investment page.
Funding your account
Always send money through formal banking channels, such as a bank wire or a licensed money transfer service, into your NITA, FC account or broker account. Informal channels (hundi) leave no paper trail. Without that trail you cannot prove where the money came from, and repatriation becomes almost impossible.
Remittance incentive: the government pays a 2.5% cash incentive on remittances sent through legal channels. The FY2026-27 budget presented in June 2026 keeps this incentive in place. Whether a particular transfer qualifies, especially one going into an investment account, is decided by the receiving bank, so ask your bank before you send.
Getting dividends and sale proceeds back
With the NITA route, cash dividends and the proceeds of share sales are credited to your NITA. On your instruction, the bank can transfer the balance to your FC account in Bangladesh or remit it abroad in foreign currency. This covers your original capital, dividends and capital gains, after applicable taxes. Your custodian bank handles the paperwork.
Keep records of every inward remittance and every trade. Banks may ask for them when you repatriate.
IPO quota for NRBs
NRBs have their own share of every IPO. Under the BSEC Public Offer of Equity Securities Rules, 2025, which took effect on 30 December 2025:
| IPO method | NRB quota | General investors |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed price | 10% | 60% |
| Book-building | 7% | 35% |
Shares in the NRB and general categories are allotted by lottery when demand exceeds supply. Because the NRB quota is a separate pool, your odds depend on how many other NRBs apply, not on the much larger general pool. IPO applications from abroad are usually paid from your FC account. Eligibility conditions for each IPO are set in its prospectus, so check before applying.
Tax considerations
Dividends from Bangladeshi companies are taxed at source. According to PwC’s Worldwide Tax Summaries, withholding tax on dividends is 15% for resident individuals and 25% for non-resident individuals. Your tax residency depends on how many days you spend in Bangladesh, not on your passport.
Capital gains on listed shares are also taxed under the Income-tax Act, 2023, and the same summary notes an exemption for smaller gains. The rules are detailed and change with each budget. Remember too that your country of residence (for example, the UK or US) may tax your worldwide income. Speak to a tax adviser in both countries.
Managing your portfolio from abroad with Amar Biniyog
Once your account is open, the Amar Biniyog app puts the Dhaka market in your pocket, whatever your time zone.
- Web, iOS and Android: trade from your laptop at work or your phone on the go.
- Live prices and orders: place, modify and track orders in real time during DSE trading hours.
- Multiple BO codes: manage your own account and family accounts, such as a joint or spouse’s account, from one login.
- Portfolio view: see holdings, gains and cash balances at a glance.
- Trader support: prefer to talk to a person? Call or WhatsApp a dedicated Mika trader to place orders for you.
Mika Securities has been a DSE member since 2005 (TREC No. 215), is a CDBL depository participant, and has 26 offices across Bangladesh. Your family at home can always visit a branch in person.
Risks and practical tips
- Currency risk: your investment is in taka. If the taka falls against your home currency, your returns shrink when converted back, even if share prices rise.
- Market risk: share prices go down as well as up. Invest money you will not need for several years and spread it across companies.
- Keep documents updated: renew your passport, visa and address details with us and your bank before they expire, or your account may be restricted.
- Keep your nominee current: update the nominee if family circumstances change.
- Use only formal channels: remit through banks or licensed services so you can repatriate later.
- Protect your login: never share your app password or OTP, even with someone claiming to be from Mika.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to visit Bangladesh to open an account?
No. You can start online and complete the rest remotely. Some documents signed abroad may need attestation by the Bangladesh embassy or high commission in your country.
Can I take my money back out of Bangladesh?
Yes, if you invest through a NITA funded by formal remittance. Capital, dividends and capital gains can be repatriated after tax, subject to Bangladesh Bank rules. Funds invested through an ordinary local account are not freely repatriable.
Can NRBs apply for IPOs?
Yes. NRBs have a reserved quota of 10% in fixed-price IPOs and 7% in book-building IPOs under the 2025 rules.
Can a family member in Bangladesh manage my account?
Yes. You can appoint someone you trust through a power of attorney, or you can trade yourself on the Amar Biniyog app and through our traders.
I hold a foreign passport. Can I still invest as an NRB?
Generally yes, if you are of Bangladeshi origin and your passport carries the required Bangladesh embassy endorsement, or you also hold a valid Bangladeshi passport. Contact us to check your case.
Ready to start?
Open your BO account online, or message our NRB team on WhatsApp at +880 1730 062188 (Sunday to Thursday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Bangladesh time). You can also reach us through our contact page.
This article is for general education only and is not investment or legal advice. Foreign exchange and investment rules can change; confirm current requirements with us or your bank. Figures cited are from public sources as of October 2026.