A task force comprising 11 members has been established to tackle the issue of illegal foreigners in Bangladesh

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed an 11-member task force to determine the course of action regarding foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh.  

The task force will be headed by the Additional Secretary (Security and Immigration) of the Security Services Division, who will serve as the convener, while the Joint Secretary of the Immigration-2 Wing will act as the member secretary. The committee includes the Director General of the Chief Adviser’s (CA) Office, the Director General (Consular) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Wing of the Public Security Division, the Deputy Inspector General (Immigration) of the Special Branch of Police, the Additional Director General (Passport, Visa, and Immigration) of the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Director (Operations Wing) of Border Guard Bangladesh, the Director of the NGO Affairs Bureau of the CA Office, the Director (External Relations Liaison Wing) of the National Security Intelligence, and the Director (External Affairs and Liaison Bureau) of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.  

As per its terms of reference, the task force will oversee and provide recommendations on all matters related to foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh. It has the authority to issue directives and propose necessary measures. Additionally, the committee may invite officials or individuals to attend meetings and co-opt members if needed.  

The task force was formed through an official notification signed by Md Kamruzzaman, Deputy Secretary of the Immigration-2 Wing of the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs.  

Earlier, on January 13, the ministry issued a circular instructing foreign nationals staying or working illegally in Bangladesh to obtain the necessary documents by January 31. On January 20, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury warned that legal action would be taken against those who fail to comply by the deadline. He also stated that employers hiring illegal foreign workers would face consequences.  

As per the home ministry's database, as of January 20, a total of 33,648 foreign nationals were found to be residing illegally or overstaying their visas in Bangladesh.