Every year some 200,000 or more Bangladeshis leave the country officially to work elsewhere. Add to this the more than 1 million Bangladeshis living permanently outside the country and the extent of emigration becomes apparent. Most of these migrants send part of their earnings home on a regular or irregular basis. Together this amounted to more than USD 2 billion annually between 2000 and 2002 and even 3 billion in 2003.

This report attempts to answer the following three research questions: What is the impact of remittances on households and the broader community in Bangladesh?; What are the initiatives taken by the Government or other actors to enhance the impact of remittances?; What are the major hindrances, opportunities and possible avenues for the enhancement of the impact of remittances on society as a whole?