At least 30,000 foreign nationals, mostly from India and China, are currently residing in Bangladesh with expired visas and have yet to apply for extensions or renewals of their documents.

An increasing number of foreign nationals are seeking permits to work in Bangladesh because of a lack of skilled managers and an education system not tailored to meet industrialisation in the country.

The government has decided to impose fines and progressive tax on a daily basis on foreigners for overstaying their visas and working illegally in Bangladesh, according to a decision taken at a meeting on Tuesday.