High Commission's warning to Bangladeshis living in South Africa

The Bangladesh High Commission in Pretoria has warned expatriate Bangladeshis in the wake of the ongoing anti-immigrant movement in South Africa.

A message from the High Commission on Saturday (June 13) said that in the context of forcing foreign nationals residing illegally in South Africa to leave the country, ambassadors and high commissioners of various countries, including Bangladesh, are jointly discussing the issue with the country's central and provincial governments.

The High Commission said that at the same time, the incident of illegal travel and arrest of nine Bangladeshi nationals who were detained at Johannesburg Airport on June 10 has sparked widespread discussion and debate in the local media. In addition, it was reported that about 20 more Bangladeshi nationals have been detained and forced to leave South Africa illegally in the past two days.

The message said that any irregularity or reckless behavior in such circumstances is undesirable. Travel, residence and livelihood abroad must be done by following legal procedures.

The High Commission also said that due to illegal immigration, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain visas to various countries with a Bangladeshi passport. To overcome this situation, everyone has been urged to abide by the law.

In addition, the cooperation of the local police and administration has been sought to protect Bangladeshi citizens and their businesses in the ongoing violent situation in South Africa. Expatriates have been advised to keep their legal documents updated, stay safe, and maintain good relations with the local community.

It also urged people to keep in touch with the High Commission in case of emergency.