The government has revoked the licences of 49 recruiting agencies owned by former ministers, lawmakers and influential figures of the Awami League, which was ousted from power following the July 2024 mass uprising.
Many of these agencies have been accused of forming syndicates with Malaysian companies to control the country’s manpower export market to Malaysia.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a gazette notification on Sunday announcing the decision.
The notification did not mention any specific reason for the cancellation. However, former joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) Fakhrul Islam told TIMES of Bangladesh that the decision was taken over allegations of corruption and money laundering in manpower exports to Malaysia during the Awami League government’s tenure.
He said that after the cancellation of these 49 licences, the number of Baira member agencies would stand at 1,443.
Familiar names on the list
Among the cancelled agencies is Unique Eastern (Pvt) Ltd, owned by former Baira president Noor Ali.
Noor Ali contested the 2001 parliamentary election from Dhaka-2 on an Awami League ticket but was defeated. He was not seen actively involved in politics afterwards.
The licences of Orbitals Enterprise, owned by Kashmiri Kamal, wife of former Awami League finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, and Orbitals International, owned by his daughter Nafisa Kamal, have also been revoked.
The list also includes Ahmed International, owned by former Awami League lawmaker from Dhaka-20 Benazir Ahmed; M/S Snigdha Overseas Ltd, owned by former Feni-2 lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari; and 5M International Ltd, owned by former Jatiya Party lawmaker from Feni-3 and retired Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury.
Masud Uddin Chowdhury is currently facing trial at the International Crimes Tribunal in a case related to crimes against humanity.
Several other agencies on the list are owned by leaders of the Awami League, Jubo League and affiliated organisations, or their family members.
The licences of Ruhul Amin Swapan and Mahbubur Rahman Sanju, who have been accused of being among the key figures behind the Malaysia manpower export syndicate, as well as Shafiqul Alam Firoz alias Kala Firoz, have also been cancelled.
Allegations surrounding Malaysia labour market
Bangladesh’s manpower export to Malaysia has remained suspended for more than two years. The last group of Bangladeshi workers entered Malaysia on 31 May 2024, after which no further approval was granted for new workers from Bangladesh.
During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Malaysia, the issue of reopening the manpower export channel was discussed.
Meanwhile, during the interim government’s tenure, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed several cases over allegations of irregularities and corruption in the Malaysia manpower export sector involving syndicates formed during the Awami League government.
A syndicate involving 100 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies sent more than 450,000 Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia between 2021 and 2024, according to allegations.
The agencies allegedly collected more than Tk5,000 crore in excess charges beyond the government-fixed fees during the period.
After the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, the ACC conducted several investigations into allegations of irregularities and corruption and filed 12 cases.
The investigations found that, instead of collecting the government-fixed fee of Tk78,990, the agencies allegedly charged several times higher amounts, resulting in the embezzlement and laundering of Tk7,984 crore 15 lakh 7,500, according to ACC findings.
Investigators have submitted charge sheets against the 49 agencies in court in connection with the cases. The government’s decision to revoke their licences came following the filing of those charge sheets.
The notification said recruiting agencies are required to comply with the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Act, 2013, the Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Act, 2023, and all related laws and regulations as part of their licensing conditions.
However, charge sheets have been filed and accepted by courts against the listed agencies under sections 406, 420, 385, 386, 427 and 34 of the Penal Code 1860.
Other agencies on the list
The agencies whose licences have been revoked include Akash Bhraman Ltd, M/S QK Quick Express Ltd, United Export Ltd, GMG Trading (Pvt) Ltd, Sadia International, The Super Eastern Ltd, Elegants Overseas Ltd, M/S Catharsis International, Midway Overseas Ltd, Madina Overseas, Al-Khamis International, New Edge International Dahmashi Corporation Ltd, Galaxy Corporation, Sultan Overseas, Provati International, Manispower Corporation, Amin Tours & Travels, ISMT Human Resource Development Ltd and Darbar Global Overseas.
Others are Natasha Overseas, Oparajita Overseas, Stanford Employment Pvt Ltd, Jannat Overseas, BM Travels Ltd, BNS Overseas Limited, Rubel Bangladesh Limited, Trans Asia Integrate Services Limited, Al Farah Human Resources & Consultancy, Brothers International, Thanex International Limited, JG Alfalah Management, Imperial Resources Limited, P.R. Overseas Limited, M/S MEF Global Bangladesh Ltd and Anonno Apurbo Recruiting Agency.
