An estimated $3.1 billion or about Tk26,400 crore is laundered away from Bangladesh each year by foreigners employed in the country, says a Transparency International Bangladesh report.

Due to foreign nationals’ tax evasion, the government is being deprived of about $1.35 billion or Tk12,000 crore in revenues annually, the TIB report says.

Over 2.5 lakh foreigners from at least 44 countries are employed in more than 20 sectors in Bangladesh, it adds.

Some 1.6 lakh of the foreigners are working without permits after coming to Bangladesh on tourist visa. Only 90,000 foreigners are working in Bangladesh following due procedure, it adds.

The average income of foreign workers in Bangladesh is $1,500 a month, it says.