TDS Desk:

Over 33,000 foreigners are illegally staying in the country, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said.

He came up with the information while briefing the media after a meeting on law and order at the conference room of his ministry office on Monday.

Warning of strict action against the illegal foreigners, the Home Adviser said they set a deadline for them to be legalised and action would be taken once the timeframe is over. “Action will also be taken against those employing illegal foreigners.”

As of 30 October last year, there were 49,266 illegal foreigners but this number stood at 33,648 till 18 January this year, he said.

An amount of Tk10.53 crore has been collected from the illegal foreigners as penalties, Adviser Jahangir Alam said.