DHAKA: Bangladesh has set up a nine-member body to track down illegal foreign nationals staying in the country, which intelligence reports say exceeds 200,000.

The committee was formed after high-level meetings between senior ministers and officials from different ministries, a home ministry official told IANS Thursday (Nov 11).

It has been given 30 days to submit a report on the number of immigrants and suggest measures to check forgery, either for illegal stay or for siphoning off local money

"We are concerned about national security and have to track down illegal immigrants and their activities," said the official preferring anonymity.

Government records show about 5,000 illegal immigrants are staying in Bangladesh, but intelligence reports have said the number exceeded 200,000.

Board of Investment executive chairman Mahmudur Rahman has been made convener of the committee.

Defining the terms of reference of the committee, Rehman told journalists it would prepare a report on how foreigners enter Bangladesh and how illegal immigrants could be brought under legal coverage.

The committee would also recommend measures against those staying in the country for a long time without valid documents.

"We will ensure that investors and innocent immigrants do not suffer," he added.

"The foreigners are contributing to our economy, but there should be discipline after identifying legal and illegal immigrants so that no one suffers," said Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, minister for local government.

Indo-Asian News Service