Although the Special Branch of police officially estimates that there are 160,000 foreign nationals in the country – on work, study and travel visas – sources in the law enforcement agency say the actual figure is likely closer to 400,000.
There is no database maintained by any government agency on how many foreigners actually live in Bangladesh.
In light of this, the Home Ministry has decided to collect and update information on foreign nationals currently residing in Bangladesh.
Asked about it, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the Dhaka Tribune that directives had been given to all district police to collect information on the employment, activities and whereabouts of foreign nationals in their zones and to provide them with adequate security.
Expatriates currently receive added security only in the Gulshan police division in the capital.
Police Headquarters had earlier given instructions to district police stations to collect information on foreign nationals living in their area, a high official at Police Headquarters confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.
The high official said many expatriates’ visas had expired and a number of them were involved in currency counterfeiting, the narcotics trade and human trafficking.
Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police, said a number of foreign nationals living in the country illegally or involved in crime had been arrested.
“We are running a drive to track down and take action against undocumented foreign nationals,” he added.
He said the police was doing its best to protect the expatriate community, most of whom are in good standing, and to bring the murderers of Cesare Tavella and Kunio Hoshi to justice.
