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49 recruiting agencies lose licences over irregularities
Published : Tuesday, 29 September, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Observer online report
The government has cancelled the licences of 49 recruiting agencies involved in various crimes and irregularities, including illegal migration.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury disclosed this during a courtesy meeting with EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller at the ministry on Tuesday.
The minister said several agencies had also been sealed and mobile courts had been instructed to conduct regular drives against those violating the law.
He said the government was committed to sending workers through legal channels and had taken a strict stance against illegal migration. A roundtable involving migration-related stakeholders, organisations and journalists will also be held soon to raise awareness about legal migration.
Michael Miller said a significant portion of Bangladesh’s remittances comes from the European Union. Referring to the government’s target of sending 10 million workers abroad over the next five years, he sought details about the licensing and regulation of agencies sending large numbers of workers overseas.
He expressed interest in working with the ministry to promote ethical and legal migration and prevent high migration costs. He said the EU would work on a Talent Partnership and legal migration opportunities to help Bangladeshi workers enter Europe through legal channels.
Miller also reiterated EU support for bringing the European Training Foundation to Bangladesh and for the social and economic reintegration of returnee migrants.
He stressed the importance of freedom of trade unions and associations under the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, harmonising the EPZ law with the general labour law, eliminating child labour and conducting regular institutional inspections of factories.
Ministry Additional Secretary Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury said specific criteria had been set for selecting and regulating recruiting agencies. Several inspection committees had also been formed to inspect agencies and submit reports.
Referring to ongoing legal migration initiatives with Italy, he urged the EU to undertake projects to raise awareness. He also said the World Bank-funded RAISE project for the rehabilitation of returnee migrants was continuing.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
