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Eighteen Bangladeshi citizens who were living in the UK illegally are being deported on a special flight this Friday, according to officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, as reported by the Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Amar Desh.
The deportation from the UK is part of a larger, coordinated effort by Western countries, including the US and Canada, to tackle a growing immigration crisis that is harming Bangladesh's international standing. Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain warned that Bangladesh's failure to address illegal immigration could lead to severe future problems.
According to diplomatic and foreign ministry sources, immigration has become a major political issue in Western nations, often influencing elections and taking priority in bilateral discussions. A senior diplomat told Daily Amar Desh that while Western countries welcome legal migration from Bangladesh, the issue of illegal migration causes "immense embarrassment" in talks and jeopardizes opportunities for legal entry.
The diplomat disclosed that a staggering 33% of the more than 10,000 people who have crossed the Mediterranean illegally into Italy in the last six months are Bangladeshi. This crisis was the primary reason for the recent postponement of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Dhaka, which was scheduled for the 30th of this month. Her visit was to focus on securing Bangladesh's cooperation to curb illegal migration.
The Daily Amar Desh report also highlights a significant issue with visa fraud. In 2023, Italy issued visas to 16,879 Bangladeshis, but it was later discovered that the majority of their documents were fraudulent. This led to a dramatic reduction in visa issuance, with only 1,164 visas granted in 2024. The work permits for over 40,000 visa applicants were suspended, as they were submitted before October 22, 2024. A powerful syndicate of brokers, both domestic and international, has reportedly been trapping visa applicants who submit fake documents and pay up to BDT 30 lakh.
Deportations from the United States have already begun, with a US military plane sending back 39 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants on August 2. Similarly, the Canadian High Commissioner informed Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials that Canada has initiated the process of deporting illegal immigrants, including Bangladeshis. The High Commissioner also noted that 90% of documents submitted by prospective Bangladeshi immigrants were found to be fake, causing significant delays for those with valid documents.
Regarding the Friday flight from Britain, a senior Foreign Ministry official confirmed to the newspaper that travel passes have been issued for the 18 deportees and that Bangladesh is "providing full cooperation." The official stated, "We do not want any Bangladeshi to stay abroad illegally." While the UK government has not provided a precise figure, they have indicated that the number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country is "quite large."
Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "We have created this crisis, and we must accept it and fix our house. We are facing an image crisis in the international arena. There is no alternative for us but to stop illegal immigration. We must do this ourselves."
Disclaimer: Daily Dazzling Dawn cannot find any independent sources to confirm the news reported by Daily Amar Desh regarding the deportations or the statements made by government officials. This is a summary of the events as described in the original article.
