The Appellate Division has stayed a High Court order that suspended the effectiveness of a government gazette notification withdrawing the licences of 49 recruiting agencies over allegations of offences and irregularities, including illegal immigration.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque’s Chamber Court passed the order on Sunday following a hearing on a petition filed by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Confirming the matter, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the gazette notification was originally issued on 19 July. Following its publication, one agency filed a writ petition in the High Court, which stayed the operation of the notification.
Upon appeal against that ruling, the Appellate Division stayed the High Court’s order on 30 September.
Subsequently, 11 additional agencies secured similar stay orders from the High Court, prompting the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to file appeal petitions with the Appellate Division.
On Sunday, after hearing these applications, the Chamber Court stayed the operation of the High Court’s orders.
According to the gazette notification, compliance with the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Act, 2013, the Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Act, 2023, and other relevant laws and regulations is mandatory under agency licence conditions.
The notification specified that charge sheets against the affected agencies have been submitted to and accepted by the court under Sections 406, 420, 385, 386, 427, and 34 of the Penal Code, 1860.
Consequently, their licences were withdrawn under the provisions of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act.
The 49 recruiting agencies whose licences have been withdrawn are: Orbitals Enterprise, Orbital International, Ahmed International, Snigdha Overseas Limited, 5M International, Unique Eastern Private Limited, Catharsis International, M/S Shaheen Travels, Irving Enterprise, Hridoy Trade International, Rabbi International, Zahrat International, 4 Sight International, Binimoy International, Akashbhromon Limited, Q K Quick Express Limited, United Export Limited, GMG Trading Private Limited, Sadia International, The Super Eastern Limited, Elegants Overseas Limited, Midway Overseas Limited, Madina Overseas, Al Khamis International, New Age International, Damashi Corporation Limited, Galaxy Corporation, Sultan Overseas, Provati International, Manispower Corporation, Amin Tours and Travels, ISMT Human Resource Development, Dorbar Global Overseas, Natasha Overseas, Aparajita Overseas, Stanford Employment Private Limited, Jannat Overseas, BM Travels, BNS Overseas Limited, Rubel Bangladesh Limited, Trans Asia Integrated Services Limited, Al Farah Human Resources and Consultancy, Brothers International, Thanex International Limited, JG Alfalah Management, Imperial Resources Limited, PR Overseas Limited, MEF Global Bangladesh Limited, and Anannya Aporba Recruiting Agency.
