11,000 illegal foreigners to be deported

A total of 11,000 foreign nationals living in Bangladesh from different countries including Africa without valid documents will be sent back to their respective countries with government cost.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque told journalists at a briefing after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at the home ministry conference room on Thursday.

During the briefing Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that foreign nationals from different countries come to Bangladesh obtaining visas but some of them do not go back even after expiry of dates of visas. 

He observed that foreign nationals are getting involved in various crimes. Many of them are in jail while some have finished their jail terms.

Apart from this, AKM Mozammel Haque alleged that many diplomatic missions here do not take steps regarding taking back their nationals having no valid documents.

He said the law enforcement agencies identified the foreign nationals whose visa validity expired and they have no money for traveling to their countries.

“We have decided to seek money from the government for their repatriation as it is urgent to send them back because they are creating trouble,” Haque said.

Meanwhile, the home minister urged house owners not to rent out their houses to foreign nationals without confirmation of their genuine addresses.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain and officials concerned attended the meeting with Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque  in the chair.