Over 33,000 foreigners illegally staying in Bangladesh

Staff Reporter :

The Home Affairs Adviser, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, revealed on Monday that over 33,000 foreigners are residing illegally in Bangladesh.

The information was shared during a press briefing following a law and order meeting at the Home Ministry.

“As of January 18, 2025, the number of illegal foreigners stands at 33,648, a reduction from 49,266 recorded on October 30 last year,” said the adviser.

He further stated that a total of Tk 10.53 crore has been collected as penalties from these individuals.

The government has set a deadline for these foreigners to regularise their status. “Once the timeframe expires, strict action will be taken against those who fail to comply, as well as against employers who hire illegal foreigners,” he warned.

This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to maintain better control over foreign nationals residing in the country and ensure adherence to legal processes.

Foreigners in Bangladesh include students, investors, and other workers. The government can regulate the entry, departure, and presence of foreigners in the country. As of December 31, 2023, there were 107,167 foreigners in Bangladesh, mostly from India and China.

In mid-2020, there were 2,115,408 foreigners in Bangladesh, which was about 1.3% of the total population. In 2020, there were 2,317 international students in public and private universities in Bangladesh.

The number of international students in Bangladesh has been declining in recent years.