A total of 103 influential figures from the previous Awami League government, including a former minister and several former members of parliament, have been cleared of human trafficking charges in a case involving irregularities in the Malaysian labour market.
However, investigators have pressed charges of fraud against 51 individuals in the same case.
The case, originally filed with Paltan Police Station, alleged that human trafficking was being conducted under the guise of manpower export.
Those cleared of trafficking charges include former Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment minister Imran Ahmed, former senior secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, and several prominent businessmen and recruiting agency owners.
According to the investigation report, no evidence of human trafficking was found, though the allegations of fraud against 51 defendants were substantiated.
The probe was conducted by the Social Media Crime Investigation Team of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Cyber and Special Crime (North) Division.
The investigation officer, DMP Sub-Inspector Md Raihanur Rahman, said on Tuesday that the case was divided into two segments- human trafficking and fraud.
“No basis for the human trafficking allegations was found. However, a chargesheet has been submitted against those for whom evidence of fraud was uncovered,” he said.
The final report was submitted to the court on 22 May, following a similar final report previously submitted by the CID.
The case was filed on 3 September, 2024, by Altab Khan, naming 103 individuals as defendants. The list of those cleared of trafficking charges, includes former lawmakers Lt Gen (Retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury (Five M International Ltd); Benjir Ahmed (Ahmed International); and Md Nizam Uddin Hazari (Snigdha Overseas Ltd); Ruhul Amin Swapan (Catharsis International); Mohammad Noor Ali (Unique Eastern); Nafisa Kamal and Kashmiri Kamal (Orbitals International); Shahadat Hossain Taslim (Shahin Travels); Golam Mostafa (Prantik Travels); Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman (Sadia International).
The allegations centred on a syndicate operating within the Malaysian labour market whose irregularities reportedly led to the market’s closure for several years.
However, the plaintiff, Altab Khan, has rejected the investigation findings. Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, he described the report as “fabricated” and “motivated,” alleging that the investigating officer submitted the report without any communication with him.
Altab Khan further claimed that a confessional statement made by one of the accused under Section 164 was not properly considered during the investigation. He alleged that the report is an attempt to protect influential members of the Malaysian labour market syndicate and announced his intention to file a petition for a judicial inquiry in court on 7 July.
Recruiting agencies remain split over the alleged syndicate, which has long been a contentious issue in Bangladesh’s overseas employment sector, sources said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, during his visit to Malaysia on Sunday, held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on reopening the labour market, during which he was reportedly assured of a positive outcome.
However, uncertainty continues among recruiting agency owners over whether the Malaysian labour market will be fully opened to all stakeholders, with lingering doubts yet to be resolved.
