Dhaka: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today filed a case against 124 individuals from 60 recruiting agencies, accusing them of violating agreements and illegally collecting excess fees from workers bound for Malaysia.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ACC reported that the accused unlawfully collected and misappropriated a total of Taka 45.45 billion, equivalent to Bangladeshi Taka 4545, 20,82,500, from Malaysia-bound workers. This act was in violation of existing rules and regulations, and the funds were laundered. ACC Director General Md. Akhtar Hossain shared these findings during a regular media briefing at the commission’s headquarters.
The ACC revealed that individuals holding various positions within the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) formed a syndicate to charge fees exceeding the government-approved cost of Taka 78,990. This breach contravened the bilateral agreement terms with the Malaysian government. The investigation highlighted that the accused bypassed necessary procedures related to contracts, such as service selection, fee collection, and financial rules, collecting excess amounts from workers during processes like passport processing and medical examinations.
Furthermore, the accused reportedly leveraged political and institutional influence to gain illegal advantages for the recruiting agencies. The ACC stated that the funds collected illegally were transferred, moved, and converted through different means for money laundering purposes.
The case was filed under multiple sections of the Penal Code, including 120 (B), 161, 162, 163, 164, 165(A), 420, 409, 109, as well as sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Previously, 40 cases were lodged against 108 individuals from 40 overseas recruiting companies for similar offenses, involving a misappropriated amount of Taka 3438 crore 94 lakh 25 thousand. Those cases are still under investigation.