Govt cancels licences of 49 recruiting agencies

In one of the biggest crackdowns on Bangladesh’s overseas recruitment sector in recent years, the government has revoked the licences of 49 recruiting agencies allegedly linked to former Awami League ministers, lawmakers and politically influential business figures over allegations of operating a syndicate in the recruitment of workers for the Malaysian labour market.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a notification on Sunday saying the licences were cancelled under Section 13 of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013, after courts accepted charge sheets filed against the agencies.

According to the notification, the agencies were accused of forming a recruitment syndicate for the Malaysian labour market, embezzling several thousand crore taka from migrant workers and laundering the proceeds abroad.

The ministry said the decision was taken “in the public interest” by order of the President.

Among the prominent individuals whose agencies were affected are the wife and daughter of former Finance Minister A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), former MP Benazir Ahmed, former General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, former MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, businessman Nur Ali, Ruhul Amin Swapan, Amin Bin Abdun Nur and Mahbubur Rahman Sanju.

The cancelled agencies include Unique Eastern (Pvt.) Ltd., M/S Catharsis International, Orbitals Enterprise, M/S Shaheen Travels, Irving Enterprise, Haidory Trade International, Rabbi International, Zahrat Associate, 4 Site International Ltd., M/S Binimoy International, Akash Bhraman Ltd., M/S Q.K. Quick Express Ltd., United Export Ltd., GMG Trading (Pvt.) Ltd., Sadia International, The Super Eastern Ltd., Elegants Overseas Ltd., 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, Ahmed International, ISMT Human Resource Development Ltd., Darbar Global Overseas, Natasha Overseas, Oparajita Overseas, 5M International Ltd., Stanford Employment Pvt. Ltd., Jannat Overseas, BM Travels Ltd., BNS Overseas Limited, Rubel Bangladesh Limited, Orbitals International, Trans Asia Integrate Services Limited, Al Farah Human Resources & Consultancy, M/S Snigda Overseas Ltd., Brothers International, Thanex International Limited, JG Alfalah Management, Imperial Resources Limited, P.R. Overseas Limited, M/S M.E.F Global Bangladesh Ltd. and Anonno Apurbo Recruiting Agency.

The notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Rashida Akter, said recruiting agencies are required to comply with the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013, the Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Act, 2023, and other applicable laws and regulations as conditions of their licences.

It said charge sheets against the agencies had been accepted by the courts under Sections 406, 420, 385, 386, 427 and 34 of the Penal Code.

The ministry said the acceptance of the charge sheets by the courts prompted the government to withdraw the licences in the public interest.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny of the Bangladesh-Malaysia labour recruitment process, which has long faced allegations of syndicate control, excessive migration costs and exploitation of migrant workers.