Bangladeshis’ asylum applications in European countries have long been a topic of discussion. But the trend of irregular migration is no longer confined to Europe. More than 60,000 Bangladeshi citizens applied for political asylum or refugee status in various African countries over the past five years (2021–25), according to data from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. While the vast majority applied in South Africa, relatively smaller numbers of Bangladeshi asylum applications have also been recorded in countries such as Somalia, Mali, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Namibia and Cameroon.

Migration experts say the trend indicates that irregular migration from Bangladesh in search of employment, security and a better life is no longer focused solely on Western countries. Despite various negative perceptions of African countries in society, many Bangladeshis are in fact seeking asylum there. For them, Africa is not merely a destination for employment; some countries are also being used as transit routes to Europe or as a means of securing opportunities to move to developed countries in the future through long-term residency.

According to UNHCR statistics, 60,546 Bangladeshis applied for asylum or refugee status in various African countries between 2021 and 2025. Of them, 850 have been registered as refugees. The remaining nearly 59,700 are asylum seekers whose applications are still being processed or have yet to be decided.

Data analysis shows that Bangladeshis have applied for political asylum in various countries across three major African subregions — Eastern and Southern Africa, Western and Central Africa, and Northern Africa. But almost all Bangladeshi asylum seekers are concentrated in Eastern and Southern Africa, particularly South Africa.

The number of Bangladeshi asylum seekers in South Africa stood at 24,561 in 2021, according to UNHCR data. But the figure fell to 9,719 the following year. It was 9,239 in 2023, rose slightly to 9,396 in 2024 and declined further to 6,540 in 2025. During the same period, the number of Bangladeshi refugees in the country stood at 200, 153, 169, 175 and 123, respectively.

In another country in the region, Somalia, six Bangladeshis were registered as refugees each year from 2021 to 2025, while in Namibia, records show that five Bangladeshis applied for asylum in 2023 alone.

The presence of Bangladeshi asylum seekers in Western and Central Africa is comparatively very limited. In Mali, records show 32 Bangladeshi asylum seekers each in 2021 and 2022, totalling 64, whereas in Cameroon, only five Bangladeshis applied for asylum in 2024. No country in the region recorded any Bangladeshi being recognised as a refugee during the period under review.

Mohammed Fakhrul Islam, former joint secretary-general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), the organisation representing manpower exporters, told Bonik Barta: “Nearly 70,000 people from Bangladesh have sought asylum in various African countries. The figure seems surprising to me. But it’s not easy to obtain visas for many countries with a Bangladeshi passport. Some people consequently go to an African country, settle there and then try to move to developed countries. Not everyone gets the opportunity to enter Europe directly. That’s why many are choosing various African countries as a relatively low-cost or alternative route.”

Among North African countries, Morocco recorded the highest number of Bangladeshi asylum seekers. In 2021, there were 72 Bangladeshi asylum seekers in the country, while the figure fell to 16 in 2022, 14 in 2023 and 10 in 2024. It rose slightly to 19 in 2025. In total, 131 Bangladeshis were recorded as having sought political asylum in Morocco during the same period, while five Bangladeshi asylum seekers were recorded each year in Egypt. In Tunisia, a total of 11 Bangladeshis sought asylum — six in 2021 and five in 2022 — whereas Algeria recorded five Bangladeshi asylum seekers in 2025 alone. No Bangladeshi was recorded as having been recognised as a refugee in any North African country.

According to migration and refugee affairs expert Asif Munir, as immigration policies in various European countries have become stricter, some Bangladeshis are choosing comparatively migrant-friendly countries to seek asylum. Obtaining legal migrant status or a residence card in these countries could also make it easier for them to seek employment opportunities in developed countries later.

He told Bonik Barta: “Due to various limitations associated with Bangladeshi passports internationally, many people try to stay in these countries for the long term and obtain residence permits. This makes it easier for them to obtain visas for Europe or other developed countries, or to migrate again at a later stage.”

He further said, “South Africa has long been known as a strong and self-sustaining destination. Bangladeshi expatriates not only establish businesses of various sizes there but also bring relatives or acquaintances from Bangladesh to expand their businesses. As a result, a sustainable chain migration network has developed there. The pattern of strategic use is somewhat different in North African countries. Countries such as Tunisia and Morocco are mainly used as key transit routes for entering Europe.”