According to a report published in this newspaper on Friday the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in overnight raids arrested four Africans and a local from different parts of the capital city and Sonargaon of Narayanganj district on charges of fraudulence. A document prepared by the Board of Investment (BoI) reveals that well over a million foreign nationals are living and working in Bangladesh without valid documents. It goes without saying that it is the duty of any responsible government to 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 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. But the question is how these elements are getting visas in the first place?
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 today’s world of open economy skilled people should be allowed to work in Bangladesh irrespective of their nationalities. Indeed over 10 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.