Police to collect data from Dhaka homeowners to track illegal foreigners 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to collect information from homeowners in the Dhaka metropolitan areas to identify foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh.

Also, a list of both legal and illegal foreign nationals will be compiled through various agencies. 

The ministry will also request all city corporations, metropolitan police units, and deputy commissioners to take necessary actions regarding illegal foreign residents.

These decisions were made in a recent meeting, presided over by Home Secretary Nasimul Gani, according to the meeting minutes.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be asked to enforce special vigilance at all border checkpoints and take necessary measures. Moreover, the ministry will organise a workshop with relevant agencies to determine further actions regarding illegal foreign residents.

Illegal foreign nationals

According to ministry data, although around 12,000 illegal foreign nationals have left Bangladesh with exit passes since 5 August, the Special Branch (SB) of the police reported that as of 18 January, 33,640 illegal foreign nationals are still residing in the country. To identify them, SB police has expanded its ongoing operations.

Currently, around 4,500 foreign nationals have pending applications for work permits and security clearances. 

Since these applications are being processed, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) have requested the relevant authorities to consider these individuals legal.

Security clearance delays

A representative of the National Security Intelligence said delays in submitting required documents by foreign applicants often prolong the security clearance investigation process. 

He proposed creating a list of those with pending security clearance applications.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged authorities to consider bilateral relations with different countries before taking action against illegal foreign nationals.

Many foreign nationals are employed by various airlines and are required to obtain work permits from BIDA. The Civil Aviation Authority has requested the Home Ministry to consider these cases reasonably.

The director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports has asked the SB police to regularly share information on foreigners receiving visas on arrival. 

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advocated for creating a central database where all stakeholders can share necessary data.

Task force formed for monitoring

To implement effective measures against illegal foreign nationals, a task force has been formed, and focal points have been designated in the relevant ministries and agencies.

According to the Home Ministry officials, in a bid to address the issue of illegal foreign nationals, the ministry formed an 11-member task force on 2 February. 

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 of the police, revealed that over 12,000 foreign nationals have already left Bangladesh after obtaining exit visas. 

He, however, did not give any timeframe.

Speaking to The Business Standard, he 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."

He added, "The task force will have the authority to issue guidelines, take necessary measures, and make recommendations for future actions."