As much as five to ten lakh foreigners are working illegally in the country in the absence of strict monitoring by the government, says Anisul Islam Mahmud, deputy leader of the opposition in parliament. However, according to a report from the Special Branch and Security Services Division of the Bangladesh Police, the total number of legally registered foreign nationals residing in Bangladesh as of 31 December, 2023 stands at 107,167.
Among them, 10,485 individuals hold business and investment visas, 14,399 possess employee visas, 6,827 are on study visas, and 75,456 hold tourist visas. Officially, there are 37,464 Indian citizens, followed by Chinese citizens with 11,404. Clearly indicates that the government does not have any specific data about as much as five to ten lakh foreigners who now are working illegally in Bangladesh. So, Bangladesh is losing huge foreign currencies.
The government should impose strict monitoring on unauthorised foreign citizens. The illegal employment of foreign workers is taking a big money as wages causing a financial and employment crisis in our country.
Five to ten lakh foreigners
are working illegally in the
country in the absence
of strict monitoring
Many foreign nationals continue working in Bangladesh without securing work permits or overstay in their jobs here even after their visa expire, simply by paying a nominal fine of Tk30,000, exploiting a loophole in the visa policy enacted in 2006. Therefore, such practices should no longer be permissible under the new visa policy introduced in 2023.
The government will have to impose fines on foreign nationals who are working in Bangladesh without having the work permit, either on a daily basis or at a progressive rate. Foreign nationals who have work permits will be allowed to switch their jobs by paying a specified fee.
On the other hand, a section of foreign nationals staying illegally in the country are allegedly involved in various offences under the shelter and support of a section of Bangladeshi people. Illegal foreigners allegedly commit different criminal activities, including drug smuggling, ATM card forgery, currency counterfeiting and cheating, according to media reports. The government will have to deter the unauthorised employment of foreigners in Bangladesh. Besides, we think the government should start expelling undocumented immigrants immediately.