The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to submit a report with detailed information about businesses, work permits and tax payment of the foreign nationals living in Bangladesh. The HC directed the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), NGO Affairs Bureau and Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) to submit the report within the next 60 days.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition. Barrister Anik R Haque represented the petitioner in the court while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukdar stood for the state. On Dec 12, lawyer Manzur Nahid filed a petition attaching an article published in a national daily on Oct 19.
Besides, the HC also issued a ruled asking as to why the authorities’ inaction to issue the work permits to foreigners should not be declared illegal and why an order shall not be given to take actions against foreigners who are working in Bangladesh without work permits. The BIDA, the NGO Affairs Bureau and the BEPZA have been asked to respond to the rule in four weeks.