By Al Sadi Bhuiyan 

DHAKA, July 6, 2026 (BSS) - 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 ongoing investigation, the ACC is examining the personal assets of the owners of the accused recruiting agencies.

The commission said it has so far filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations of corruption in the overseas labour market.

Besides, the ACC has issued notices to 213 of the accused, directing them to submit statements of their assets. 

According to the cases, the 100 recruiting agencies allegedly misappropriated a total of Tk 7,984 crore 15 lakh 7,500.

The information was disclosed in a letter signed by S M M Akhtar Hamid Bhuiyan, Director of the ACC's Special Enquiry and Investigation-2 Division, who is currently on post-retirement leave (PRL).

One of those served with a notice is Golam Mostafa, Managing Director of Prantik Travels and Tourism Limited.

He has been accused of acquiring substantial movable and immovable assets, both in his own name and in the names of others, beyond his known sources of income.

Under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the ACC on February 25 this year directed him to submit, within 21 working days of receiving the order, detailed statements in the prescribed form of all movable and immovable assets, liabilities, sources of income, and particulars of assets acquired in his own name, in the names of his wife and dependants, or in benami names. 

The letter stated that failure to submit the asset statement within the stipulated period, or submission of false information, would result in legal action under Section 26(2) of the Act. 

Sources familiar with the investigation said notices had been issued in phases to 191 individuals up to May this year, while the process of issuing notices to another 22 individuals is underway.

So far, 167 recipients have submitted their asset statements to the commission. Necessary action will be taken after verification of those declarations.

Asked about the matter, ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Akhtarul Islam told BSS that notices had been issued to persons concerned with the allegations. 

The process of issuing notices to several more individuals is also underway, he said.

"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 scrutinized. Further investigation has 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 Islam further said, "If any discrepancy is found between a person's submitted asset statement and actual assets, a case will be filed against him for acquiring illegal wealth."

"Depending on the nature of the offence, the commission may also seek court orders imposing travel restrictions and attachment or freezing of movable and immovable assets," he added. 

-Former AL ministers, MPs among top accused-

The ACC has filed 12 separate cases in an initial phase against former ministers, members of parliament (MPs), upazila chairmen, councillors and owners of recruiting agencies over allegations of collecting money beyond the government-fixed fee for sending workers to Malaysia and laundering those funds abroad. 

The accused include former finance and planning minister A H M Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal); former lawmakers Nizam Uddin Hazari, retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Benazir Ahmed; former upazila chairman Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan; and chairmen, managing directors and family members of various recruiting agencies.

According to the allegations, the accused worked together to circumvent the regulations set by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA). 

Instead of collecting the government-approved fee of Tk 78,990 to send a worker to Malaysia, they allegedly collected as much as Tk 246,490 per worker by adding extra charges for passports, medical tests, air tickets and other expenses. They allegedly pocketed the excess amount.

The allegations also say that money collected through sub-agents, excess air ticket charges and other intermediaries was kept outside the official government-approved fee structure.

Investigators alleged that the money was later transferred abroad through various channels in an attempt to launder it.