The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has revoked the licenses of 49 recruiting agencies, including those owned by former ministers and members of parliament from the Awami League. The decision was announced on Sunday through a notification issued by the ministry’s monitoring branch. The agencies face allegations of forming a syndicate in Malaysia’s labor market, embezzling billions of taka, and laundering money abroad.

According to the source, a human trafficking case was filed at Paltan Police Station over the alleged embezzlement through the Malaysia recruitment syndicate. Investigators have submitted a charge sheet against the 49 agencies, prompting the ministry to withdraw their licenses under Section 13 of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Act, 2013. The notification stated that the order was issued in the public interest and signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Rashida Akter on behalf of the President.

The ministry emphasized that all recruiting agencies must comply with the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Act, 2013, the amended 2023 law, and other relevant regulations.