Maharashtra assembly speaker Babasaheb Kupekar on Saturday directed the state government to undertake a special drive for removing illegal Bangladeshis from the state.

"The issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is very serious and effective steps are needed to control the situation," Kupekar said after leader of the opposition Narayan Rane objected to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh taking up the issue with the Centre before discussing it in the Lower House.

The speaker said the problem of illegal Bangaldeshi migrants was not only limited to the metropolis but was spreading throughout the state.

Upholding the opposition's objection that the state government should have discussed the issue in the legislature, Kupekar said the state government should call an all-party meeting to inform the legislators on the steps to tackle the situation.

Rane said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants at Delhi on Friday, but had failed to inform the state legislature on the issue and steps to tackle it.

BJP leader in the House Eknath Khadse said the state government had not taken the opposition into confidence before taking up the matter with the Centre.