DHAKA: Bangladesh government has urged to Australian government to provide legality to some eight hundred Bangladeshi expatriates staying at Australian refugee center.

If the Australia approved the proposal, the Bangladeshis will get work permit as well. However, earlier on May 15, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Greg Wilcock proposed to State Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to take back those Bangladeshis.

In a response, Asaduzzaman Khan sought a legal permission for them and urged to provide them work permit.

He also requested to Australian high commission to record file the names and addresses of them and sent it to the ministry.

Asaduzzaman Khan said that there are some eight hundred people at the refugee center where some may be Rohingyas and other nationals.

He also said that after proper investigation their identities will be disclosed. In this process the Bangladeshi people will be requested to get priority to be legalized.

They might have reached there by water way illegally so that the Australian high commissioner showed his concern, he added.

Every year some 50 thousands people from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and other countries travelled to Australia illegally where the Bangladeshis are around 1 to 1.5 percent.

BDST: 1043 HRS, MAY 29, 2014