Illegal foreigners lauder Tk 26,000 crore a year

Foreign nationals who are working in Bangladesh illegally are laundering Tk 26,400 crore annually. 

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed the information through publishing a research report at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office on Wednesday.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman was present at the press conference as the chief guest. Manjur E Khoda prepared the research report.

According to the survey conducted, it is found that some 2,50,000 foreigners are working in Bangladesh legally and illegally. According to the Home Ministry, there are 90,000 legal foreign workers in Bangladesh. The average monthly salary of foreigners is $1,500. As a result, the annual income of foreign workers is $ 4.5 billion. After local expenditure, about 3.15 billion US dollars go abroad, the report said.

Meanwhile, according to the information of Bangladesh Bank, $ 3.15 billion goes to abroad, of which $ 46 million goes legally. The remaining $ 3.1 billion go illegally and the amount of money is about Tk 26,400 crore. And the annual revenue loss is Tk 12,000 crore, it said.

TIB also urged the government and ministry concerned to make a list of the foreign workers and update it.

 

Dhaka/Noor/Mukul