The number of illegal immigrants in the Maldives is expected to exceed 96,145, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said.

According to the law, a maximum of 100,000 workers can be brought to the Maldives from one country. The previous MDP government had stopped bringing Bangladeshi workers to the Maldives, citing that the limit had been reached.

However, the current President, Dr. Mohammed Muizzu took over the government, stating that there were 90,000 Bangladeshis in the Maldives and opened the opportunity to bring workers from that country.

Replying to questions raised by MPs in Parliament today, Minister Ihusaan said the exact number of illegal foreigners in the country has not yet been clarified to 100 percent.

However, the minister said there are 135,149 active work permits for Bangladeshis in the Maldives. Of these, 39,004 are valid active work permits that are being paid regularly. Therefore, all the remaining work permits can be considered as illegal immigrants, he said. However, many of these people have left the country as observed through the border system, he said.

According to the minister, active work permits include those under which the person does not come to the Maldives and those under which the foreigner returns but the company does not cancel them.

The minister said illegal immigrants are a threat to national security. Therefore, a special task force has been formed to address the issue and a one-year program has been launched.