POBNEWS24, Dhaka Feb 7, 2024 : Some 11,404 Chinese citizens are staying in Bangladesh without permission to work in this country.
Special Branch (SB) confirmed the information in a seminar on Tuesday.
According to the Special Branch of Police (SB), the number of foreign nationals living in Bangladesh till December 31 was 1 lakh 7 thousand 167 people.
Among them, Indian citizens are the most 37 thousand 464 people. The second highest number of Chinese citizens is 11,404.
They came to Bangladesh on four types of visas. Among them, 10 thousand 485 foreign nationals came to Bangladesh on business and investment class visa, 14 thousand 399 on employment visa, 6 thousand 827 on education visa and 75 thousand 456 on tourism and other class visa.
The topic came up in the meeting titled ‘Determining what to do about foreign nationals staying in Bangladesh without work permit’ held at the conference room of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) at Agargaon of the capital on Tuesday.
Chaired by Chief Secretary to Prime Minister Tofazzal Hossain Mia, executive chairman of BIDA Lokman Hossain Mia along with secretaries of relevant ministries and departments and top level officials were also present.
Those concerned said that a large number of foreign nationals are staying in Bangladesh even after their visas have expired. Because, if caught, the amount of fine is very low, that is only 30,000 Taka. Many people are taking the opportunity to stay longer even after changing the visa class.
The meeting decided to create a central database in this regard along with imposition of fine on daily basis against foreign nationals living illegally in Bangladesh. Along with that, it was decided to impose fines to those who provide employment, hotel or house rent to illegally residing foreigners.
In his speech, Tofazzal Hossain Mia said that many foreign nationals are coming to work in Bangladesh on A-3 visa, B-visa or tourist visa by evading income tax. In many cases they come to work for one organization and move to another. As the visa policy made in 2006 does not have the conditions for accepting work permit, many people leave the country without taking work permit or because the visa is not valid or even after it has expired, they leave the country with a fine of only 30 thousand taka. In this case, we have decided to impose penalty provisions at daily and progressive rates.
He said that in the future, no foreigner will have the opportunity to engage in any work without a work permit in Bangladesh. However, subject to work permit, if foreign nationals want to join another institution, they can go to that institution by paying the prescribed fee. In that case, he will not need to go to his home country and get a visa again, he said.
The process of issuing visas to Bangladesh missions will be online and automated. If the foreigner has a visa class other than the class of visa they will come under, has an expired visa and does not have a work permit, the owners of the houses or hotels where they stay will also be fined. It has been decided to impose fines on illegal foreign nationals on a daily basis i.e. the more days they stay, the more days they will be fined. Companies that employ illegal citizens will also have to pay fines.
Tofazzal Hossain Mia said that the information of those who have been blacklisted by the Security Service Department will be published on the website.
It would be possible to earn an additional revenue worth 1 thousand to 1 thousand 200 crore Taka annually, he said.
