12,000 illegal foreigners leave country with exit pass since last December
Special Branch sources have reported that several others left the country via neighbouring land borders
A total of 12,000 foreign nationals, who had been staying in the country illegally, left Bangladesh with exit visas from 8 December last year until 31 January this year, according to home ministry sources.
The mass departure comes after a strict directive from the ministry aimed at addressing the growing concern over illegal stay of foreigners in Bangladesh.
The ministry has estimated that over 33,000 foreign nationals are still residing in the country illegally, predominantly from India and China, and are working in various sectors without valid documentation, said the sources.
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In light of this situation, an 11-member task force was formed today to determine the course of action regarding illegal foreigners.
On 8 December last year, the ministry had issued a warning notice, instructing all foreign nationals staying or working illegally in Bangladesh to apply for legal status by providing necessary documentation. The ministry also called on organisations employing these individuals to assist them in the process.
The notification indicated that legal action would be pursued against both the foreign nationals and the organizations hiring them unlawfully.
On 10 December, Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, the special assistant to the chief adviser on home ministry, jointly issued a notice, without setting a specific deadline for applications. However, another notice issued on 26 December set 31 January, as the final deadline for illegal foreign nationals to apply for legal stay.
By the deadline, only 4,500 applications had been submitted, far fewer than the estimated number of illegal residents. These applications are currently under review.
In the meantime, over 12,000 foreign nationals exited Bangladesh through airports and land ports after paying fines totaling Tk15 crore for their illegal stay.
Special Branch sources have reported that several others left the country via neighboring land borders.
An official from the Special Branch (SB) of the police, wishing anonymity, stated that many of the illegal foreign nationals are engaged in businesses or working in various companies and projects, often without paying taxes. This situation poses both security risks and challenges to revenue generation.
While some arrests have been made, the official confirmed that no large-scale crackdown has been initiated as of yet.
Task force to address illegal foreigners' issue
In a bid to address the issue of illegal foreign nationals, the home ministry yesterday formed an 11-member task force.
Headed by Additional Secretary Kazi Golam Tousif of the ministry's Security Service Division, the task force will work on tackling the presence of foreign nationals without valid documentation.
Additional Secretary Tousif, citing data from the Special Branch, revealed that over 12,000 foreign nationals have already left Bangladesh after obtaining exit visas. He, however, did not give any timeframe.
Talking to TBS, he also said a significant number of foreigners still remain in the country illegally, which prompted the formation of this task force to ensure stricter monitoring and compliance.
The committee, which includes members from various governmental bodies such as the Foreign Ministry, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the National Security Intelligence (NSI), will coordinate actions to manage illegal foreign nationals in Bangladesh.
The task force will have the authority to issue guidelines, take necessary measures, and make recommendations for future actions.
