Photo: Messenger
There is confusion about how many legal foreign workers are actually working in Bangladesh. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 24,966 foreign workers were working legally as of last December. However, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the number of legal foreign workers is 17,397. No one from the two organisations wants to make an official statement on the matter.
The organisation called Oboidho Bideshi Khedao Andolon says that the number of foreign workers is actually many times higher than what is claimed by various government agencies. Meanwhile, during the hearing on the petition filed by the organisation seeking to know the actual number of illegal foreign workers, the High Court asked the inspector general of police to reveal the exact number. Oboidho Bideshi Khedao Andolon says that constitutional rights are being undermined as the government allows foreigners to work by devaluing the talented manpower of the country. Besides, $10.2 billion is taken out of the country every year due to lack of action against illegal foreigners.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs sources, the number of legal foreign workers as of last December is 24,966. Among them, 14,872 are from India, 1,225 from China, 374 from the Philippines, 69 from Nigeria, 57 from Somalia, 33 from Kenya, 19 from Cameroon, and 8,317 from the Western world, including the European Union and the United States. On the other hand, according to the NBR sources, 17,397 non-resident foreigners filed income tax returns in the 2023-24 tax year. Of them, 2,000 are from China, 2,753 from India, and about 1,500 from the US.
No official of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Board of Revenue wanted to give an official statement on this information. However, they confirmed that Indians are the largest group of foreign workers in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, according to the information provided by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in parliament in June last year, 20,988 foreign nationals from 115 countries are working in Bangladesh with work permits. Foreigners include 6,075 Chinese, 5,876 Indians, 2,468 Russians, 1,246 Sri Lankans, 924 South Koreans, 557 Japanese, 416 Pakistanis, 460 Filipinos, 399 Thais, 378 Belarusians, 269 Kazakhs, 168 Americans, 139 Koreans, 123 Malaysians, and 108 Indonesians. The minister said that foreigners in Bangladesh are working in industries, development projects, NGOs, INGOs, and various organisations.
Meanwhile, Advocate Salahuddin Regan has filed a writ in the High Court seeking directives to investigate how many legal and illegal foreign workers are working in Bangladesh, claiming that the relevant government agencies are not disclosing the correct information. This writ was filed on behalf of Oboidho Bideshi Khedao Andolon. In the hearing on that writ on May 29, the High Court ordered the inspector general of police to submit a report listing the number of foreign legal and illegal workers working in Bangladesh.
Besides, the organisation held a press conference at the National Press Club on February 14. It said that more than one million foreign illegal workers are working in the country. As a result, the citizens of this country are deprived of the right to get employment based on their merit.
Barrister M Sarwar Hossain, general secretary of the organization and lawyer of the Supreme Court, told The Daily Messenger on Friday that no organisation of the government gives correct information in this regard. “The number of illegal foreign workers is much higher than the information they give. That is why the writ was filed to know the exact number. The time given by the High Court to provide the information has not passed yet. We hope that the IGP will give the information in time as per the order of the High Court.”
He also said that it is a constitutional right to be employed according to merit. “But the government is undermining constitutional rights. Talents are losing morale because the government is not utilising them and giving opportunities to foreigners instead.” He said that illegal foreigners working in Bangladesh have been taking $10.2 billion out of the country every year since 2017. “Being illegal, they are laundering the country's money without paying tax and VAT. As a result, the economy of Bangladesh is gradually destroyed and human rights and national security are threatened.”
According to the visa policy of 2006, Bangladesh gives visas in at least 33 categories. Among these, some classes of visas are given to foreigners for work. One of them is employment visa. This visa is required for foreign workers to participate in any recruitment process. Business visa is required for representatives of foreign organisations. Education visa is needed if someone from abroad wants to study in Bangladesh.
Residence visa is required for foreign nationals to reside in Bangladesh. In addition, family and residence visa is required for residence in Bangladesh.
Heads of state or government, ministers or persons of equivalent status get A category visa. Members of government delegations are granted A1 visa and officials of the United Nations or any of its agencies, international or regional organisations are granted A2 visa. If the family members of A2 visa holders want to come to Bangladesh, they are given FA2 visa.
According to sources, one must first take a job offer to work in Bangladesh. After that, the foreign national should apply for a visa at the nearest Bangladeshi embassy or consulate. After receiving the work visa, a work permit must be applied for. By following these steps, foreign workers can legally work in Bangladesh.
Messenger/Disha
