The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a crackdown on recruiting agencies and individuals accused of charging Bangladeshi workers several times the government-approved fee for jobs in Malaysia between 2021 and 2024 during the Awami League (AL) government's tenure.
As part of its investigation, the anti-graft body is examining the assets of owners of the accused recruiting agencies.
The commission said it has so far filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over alleged corruption in the overseas labour market.
According to the cases, the agencies allegedly misappropriated Tk7,984.15 crore by charging workers far above the government-approved recruitment cost.
The information was disclosed in a letter signed by SMM Akhtar Hamid Bhuiyan, Director of the ACC's Special Enquiry and Investigation-2 Division, who is currently on post-retirement leave (PRL).
The ACC has issued notices to 213 accused individuals, directing them to submit detailed statements of their assets.
One of those served with a notice is Golam Mostafa, managing director of Prantik Travels and Tourism Limited, who has been accused of acquiring substantial movable and immovable assets beyond his known sources of income, both in his own name and through others.
Under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the ACC on 25 February directed him to submit, within 21 working days, a detailed declaration of all movable and immovable assets, liabilities, sources of income, and properties held in his own name, in the names of his wife and dependants, or under benami ownership.
The commission warned that failure to submit the statement within the stipulated period, or providing false information, would invite legal action under Section 26(2) of the Act.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, notices had been issued in phases to 191 individuals up to May this year, while the process of serving another 22 notices is under way.
So far, 167 recipients have submitted their asset declarations, which are now being verified by the commission.
ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Akhtarul Islam told BSS that the process of issuing notices to additional suspects is continuing.
"Among those who have already submitted their asset statements, full-fledged investigations have been recommended against 25 individuals," he said.
"The remaining declarations are also being scrutinised. Further investigations have been proposed in many cases. Those who fail to submit their asset statements within the stipulated time will face legal action in accordance with the law," he added.
Akhtarul said that if discrepancies are found between declared assets and actual wealth, the commission will file cases for acquiring assets beyond known sources of income.
"Depending on the nature of the offence, the commission may also seek court orders imposing travel restrictions and freezing or attaching movable and immovable assets," he added.
In the initial phase of the investigation, the ACC filed 12 separate cases against former ministers, members of parliament, upazila chairmen, councillors and recruiting agency owners over allegations of collecting money beyond the government-fixed fee for sending workers to Malaysia and laundering the proceeds abroad.
The accused include former finance and planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), former MPs Nizam Uddin Hazari, retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Benazir Ahmed, former upazila chairman Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan, as well as chairmen, managing directors and family members of several recruiting agencies.
According to the allegations, the accused colluded to bypass regulations set by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).
Although the government-approved recruitment fee for Malaysia was Tk78,990 per worker, they allegedly collected as much as Tk246,490 by adding inflated charges for passports, medical examinations, air tickets and other services, pocketing the excess amount.
Investigators also allege that money collected through sub-agents, inflated airfares and other intermediaries remained outside the official fee structure before being transferred abroad through various channels in an attempt to launder the funds.