The government today requested a visiting European Union delegation to legalise Bangladeshi nationals, who are staying in different European countries after expiry of their valid documents.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal made the call when the delegation met him at his office in Dhaka.

The delegation, during the meeting, claimed that around 80,000 Bangladeshis are living in EU as illegal migrants.

Christian Leffler, deputy secretary general for global and economic issues of the European External Action Service of the EU, led the team.

The home boss also requested them to expand scope of legal job for Bangladeshis in the EU countries, the ministry sources said.

Amid growing concern over illegal migration to Europe, the EU team arrived in Bangladesh Sunday on a three-day visit to attend a programme on "EU-Bangladesh Migration Dialogue" which is scheduled to be held at the foreign ministry.