Illegal foreign workers
According to recent media reports as many as four hundred thousand foreigners are working in Bangladeshs various sectors without any valid documents. We are pleased to note that the government is planning to monitor their activities. However we expect the government to more than just monitor but take stern actions against illegal immigrants.
It goes without saying that it is the duty of any responsible government to protect its territory as well as its citizens and resources against illegal immigrants. Almost all of these people are sending money to their respective countries through hundi and other dubious means thereby harming the economy. However that is just the tip of the iceberg.
What worries us most is the virtual influx of many illegal immigrants who are deeply involved in serious offences like human trafficking, smuggling narcotic drugs, printing and carrying counterfeit currency, etc. What is more alarming is the fact many religious fundamentalists are intruding into the country and getting patronage from religious seminaries and other institutes. Many of these institutes have allegedly become recruiting grounds for potential extremists. It is widely believed that the training is carried out by overseas fundamentalists who are living for long in Bangladesh without proper documents. Among them there are definitely people who have crossed the border illegally but many have actually come to Bangladesh after acquiring visas and did not leave after expiration of their visa tenure. We would like to know how come these elements are getting visas?
While we strongly recommend that the government take action against illegal immigrants particularly those who are indulged in criminal activities, we should also take into account the fact that in todays world of open economy skilled people should be allowed to work in Bangladesh irrespective of their nationalities. Indeed over ten million Bangladeshis are working all over the world and most of them are doing so with legal documents. Skilled foreigners have already shown their worth in various sectors in the country.
It is also true that many companies are discouraged from obtaining work permits for their overseas employees because of the cumbersome nature of the process involved. If overseas employees potentially add value to our economy there is hardly any valid reason to prevent them from working here.
