Bangladesh Moves to Regularise or Deport 3,112 Indian Nationals Over Visa Violations
DHAKA, Aug. 10, 2026 —
The Special Branch of Bangladesh Police has recently instructed those whose visas have expired to either renew their visas through the proper legal process or leave the country, officials said.
Bangladesh currently has about 18,453 Indian nationals living legally in the country, according to Special Branch data cited by officials. Some of those whose visas have expired are employed in sectors including garments, textiles, telecommunications, information technology, power generation, engineering, education and other private-sector businesses.
Authorities seek to verify foreign workers
Police officials say they are checking the immigration status of foreign nationals across Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh.
Employers of foreign workers whose visas have expired are also being notified, officials said, with authorities asking them to ensure that their employees maintain valid immigration documents.
An official familiar with the process said a number of Indian nationals working in Bangladesh had failed to renew their visas despite their expiry.
In one example cited by Special Branch officials, an Indian textile engineer employed at a garment factory in Gazipur was found to have remained in Bangladesh after his visa expired. Police reportedly advised him to complete the visa renewal process or leave the country. The management of the factory was also informed, according to the official.
Concerns over employment and immigration compliance
Some officials and experts have raised concerns about foreign nationals working in Bangladesh without valid visas, particularly in sectors where qualified Bangladeshi workers may also be seeking employment.
However, experts note that companies sometimes employ foreign professionals because of shortages of specialised skills in certain industries. They say immigration enforcement should therefore be accompanied by proper verification of qualifications, work permits and employment requirements.
Claims by private research organisations and think tanks that several hundred thousand Indian nationals may be living in Bangladesh outside official figures have circulated, but those estimates could not be independently verified for this report.
There are also claims that some Indian nationals enter Bangladesh on tourist or visa-on-arrival arrangements and subsequently remain beyond the permitted period. Authorities are examining such cases as part of their wider immigration checks.
Informal money transfers raise concerns
The issue has also raised questions about the movement of money from Bangladesh to India.
Some sources have alleged that large sums are transferred to India through informal channels, including hundi, by Indian nationals working in Bangladesh.
A figure of 490 billion taka ($49,000 crore) a year has been cited in connection with such transfers. However, the figure could not be independently verified, and no official evidence establishing that amount was available for this report.
Financial investigators would need to establish whether any such transfers constitute illegal remittances or money laundering.
Immigration records being updated
Special Branch officials said immigration records involving Indian nationals are also being reviewed and updated.
According to officials, some records may not have been updated following the issuance of new passports or the renewal of visas. In other cases, information concerning visa extensions may not have been properly entered into immigration databases.
The authorities are working to update those records, officials said.
The review covers Indian nationals who entered Bangladesh on various types of visas, including business, investment and tourist visas, over the past 15 years.
Other foreign nationals also under review
The immigration operation is not limited to Indian nationals.
Special Branch teams are also working in Dhaka and other districts to identify foreign nationals from other countries who may be staying in Bangladesh without valid immigration documents, officials said.
Authorities say those found to be residing in the country unlawfully may face legal action under Bangladesh's immigration laws.
Legal consequences for overstaying
Foreign nationals whose visas expire may be required to pay prescribed fines before leaving Bangladesh or regularising their status, depending on the circumstances and applicable immigration rules.
Officials said individuals who remain in the country without valid permission beyond the permitted period may face legal proceedings under the country's immigration laws.
The authorities have also urged foreign nationals with expired visas to resolve their status promptly rather than continue staying in Bangladesh without legal authorisation.
Power and infrastructure projects complicate enforcement
Officials acknowledged that some Indian nationals whose visas have expired are working on ongoing infrastructure and power projects in Bangladesh.
Their immediate removal could potentially disrupt projects that depend on specialised personnel, officials said. Similar concerns have been raised regarding foreign workers in the information technology and telecommunications sectors.
Authorities are therefore asking such workers and their employers to regularise their immigration status wherever legally possible.
Officials also said some Indian nationals involved in private-sector businesses and investments outside Dhaka had allowed their visas to expire without renewing them.
In some cases, authorities have repeatedly advised them to complete the renewal process, while some individuals have said they intend to leave Bangladesh soon, according to officials.
Security concerns
Security experts have called for stronger enforcement against foreign nationals who remain in Bangladesh without valid legal status.
Air Commodore (retd.) Ishfaq Elahi Chowdhury said authorities should identify undocumented foreign nationals and take appropriate legal steps to return them to their countries of origin.
A senior Special Branch official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said foreign nationals who could not demonstrate a valid legal basis for remaining in Bangladesh had been told to leave the country or regularise their status.
Security concerns have also been raised about undocumented foreigners, although there is no evidence presented in the information available for this report that the individuals identified by authorities are involved in criminal or security-related activities.
Balancing enforcement with economic needs
The government faces the challenge of enforcing immigration laws while avoiding disruption to businesses, infrastructure projects and industries that rely on specialised foreign workers.
The authorities are also reviewing the immigration status of foreign nationals more broadly, rather than focusing exclusively on Indian citizens.
According to Special Branch figures cited by officials, 83,682 foreign nationals are currently living legally in Bangladesh.
The immediate priority for authorities is to ensure that foreign nationals working and residing in Bangladesh have valid visas and appropriate legal status, while taking lawful action against those who remain in the country without valid permission.
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