10 lakh foreigners working in Bangladesh illegally
Staff Reporter :
More than 10 lakh foreign workers and employees are currently working in various positions in the country, depriving local citizens of employment opportunities based on merit.
Speakers came up with this at a roundtable discussion on “Rising Unemployment in Youth and Impact of Illegal Foreigners,” organized by the Movement against Illegal Foreigners at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad conference room.
Speakers alleged that a significant portion of Bangladeshi workers’ hard-earned remittances is flowing abroad, particularly to India, facilitated by illegal foreign workers.
Researcher and political analyst Lt Col (Retd) Ferdous Aziz emphasized, “Every citizen of Bangladesh has the constitutional right to equal opportunities.
However, in the last decade and a half, the issue of unemployment has escalated drastically. The current unemployment rate stands at 12 per cent, the highest ever recorded.”
“The severity of unemployment has led to tragic incidents where Bangladeshi citizens lose their lives in pursuit of employment, from the Bay of Bengal to the Mediterranean,” he added.
“On the other hand, the presence of more than 10 lakh foreign workers and employees in various workplaces across the country is depriving Bangladeshi citizens of employment opportunities based on merit.”
Advocate Md Mohsin Rashid said, “Individuals from different countries, including India and China, are occupying important positions in various companies without proper work permits, starting from businesses as basic as the flower shops near Dhaka University.”
“The people of this country have witnessed the stark reality of Indian hegemony in Bangladesh’s political arena. Law enforcement personnel, aware of these issues, remain silent today for reasons unknown,” he said.
Mohsin further emphasized, “The younger generation, committed to Bangladesh nationalism, should take steps to expel illegal foreigners from their own country to restore their self-esteem and alleviate unemployment.”
Major Mujibul Haque (retd) highlighted, “Illegal foreign workers are channeling over $10.2 billion out of Bangladesh annually.
Due to their illegal status, they are transferring money through informal channels like hundi without paying taxes and VAT.”
“As a result, Bangladesh’s economy is becoming increasingly fragile, while the nation’s independence, sovereignty, human rights, and national security are under threat.
Despite these grave concerns, the government has not taken sufficient steps to repatriate all illegal workers, leaving the reasons behind this inaction unclear,” he opined.
“Under these circumstances, it is imperative for the government to address this issue for the sake of its citizens,” Haque emphasized.
Major (Retd) M Sarwar Hossain, Abdur Rahim, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Nurul Huda Chowdhury Milu, Major (Retd) Md Imran, among others, also shared their perspectives on the occasion.