Source Bangladesh To Stop Probing Workers Exploitation Syndicate

---

 


Bangladesh has agreed to stop its investigation over allegations of a syndicate exploiting its labourers who wish to work in Malaysia, a high-ranking official from the Bangladeshi government told Malaysiakini.
The official, who requested anonymity, claimed the decision was made during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago between representatives from the Bangladeshi government and the Malaysian Human Resources Ministry.
“Two officials - a special envoy and a special assistant - to the chief adviser to the Bangladeshi government visited Malaysia two weeks ago and held a meeting with the ministry officials.
“In the meeting, the Bangladeshi representatives agreed to discontinue the investigations so that Malaysia can resume recruiting Bangladeshi workers,” the official said.
ADSWhile other Human Resources Ministry officials contacted by Malaysiakini confirmed the matter, the ministry’s official spokesperson denied it.
“No such meeting happened two weeks ago,” the official spokesperson said briefly without elaborating.
Earlier, Malaysiakini was informed that the meeting was held after the Malaysian government sent a letter to Bangladesh, calling for the investigations to be halted, claiming it was baseless.
The letter, dated April 23, 2025, was sent by a senior Human Resources Ministry official to a fellow senior official of the Bangladeshi Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.
While the Malaysian government urged its Bangladeshi counterpart to address claims of exploitation of its citizens who wanted to work in Malaysia between 2022 and 2024, it mentioned that most of the allegations involving human trafficking and money laundering were baseless and damaging to Malaysia’s reputation.
“Plus, we urge you to stop reinvestigating cases that had been dropped before this through formal mechanisms.
“This is to ensure Malaysia is able to preserve and improve our Trafficking in Persons ratings by showing our commitment to ethical recruitment processes,” the letter reads.
Malaysiakini has contacted the Human Resources Ministry official who sent the letter for comments.
Bangladesh nabs minister
On Oct 21, 2024, the Bangladeshi police arrested former minister Imran Ahmed over a massive investigation involving migrant workers’ recruitment to Malaysia, reported The Business Standard.
Dhaka’s additional deputy commissioner Obaidur Rahman confirmed the arrest but refused to elaborate on the reasons.
Last September, the same daily reported that a workers’ recruitment agency owner had lodged a police report against 103 individuals, including Imran, alleging they were involved in the syndicate.
Former Bangladesh minister Imran AhmedADSThe report refers to human trafficking and abuse of power involved in the process of sending workers to Malaysia, using the agencies chosen through the memorandum of understanding signed between both nations on Dec 19, 2021.
Over 480,000 Bangladeshi workers entered Malaysia between 2022 and 2024 through the approved agencies.
However, several local and Bangladeshi NGOs alleged that despite being promised jobs, some get stranded in Malaysia without employment, are debt-ridden, and risk being arrested by Malaysian authorities.
Many claim to have been cheated with promises of jobs, despite having paid up to RM25,000 in fees, usually after taking loans. - Mkini

---