85,486 foreigners working legally

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday told the parliament that some 85,486 foreigners from 44 countries have been working in Bangladesh legally.

Of them, some 35,386 are Indians and 13,268 Chinese, who have been involved in various professions in the country, he said in a scripted answer.

“Of the total, 67,885 have been operating their own businesses,” Kamal told parliament while responding to the question of opposition lawmaker Mayeedul Islam.

Besides, 8,300 foreign nationals are working as experts, 3,682 officials, 2,105 sports persons or sports organisers, 922 investors, 804 personal staff, 727 technicians, 561 NGO personalities, 400 researchers and 132 holiday workers.  

The Jatiya Party MP alleged that some two lakh foreigners have been siphoning off around Tk 40,000 crore from the country.

The minister said the foreign nationals had been working here as country manager, consultant, quality controller, merchandiser, technician, physician, nurse, engineer, production manager, cook, fashion designer and teacher.

ATTACK ON POLICE FROM KHALEDA'S MOTORCADE

In reply to a supplementary question, the home minister said the January 30 attack on police was carried out by BNP activists from the motorcade of Khaleda Zia.

“They vandalised a prison van carrying out a sudden attack. The motorcade of Khaleda Zia was passing through the area when the incident took place…,” Kamal said while responding to the supplementary question of Fazilatun Nessa Indira.

The attackers snatched away two rifles during the attack, but police brought the situation under control with patience, said the minister.  

He added that the attackers are being identified through scrutinising the video footage of the incident. “The miscreants will be brought to book after identifying them,” he said.

4,000 KG GOLD SEIZED IN 8 YRS

In reply to another query, the home minister informed the House that a total of 4,130 kilogram of gold was seized in the country which was brought illegally in the last eight years since 2009.

In reply to another query, he said the government has strengthened security measures for foreign nationals, including diplomats stationed in Dhaka, tourists and foreign workers in the country.

"We've strengthened security measures and intelligence vigilance," he told parliament.