The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed cases against the former president of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, along with 31 owners of 13 recruiting agencies on charges of human trafficking in Malaysia and embezzling about Tk 11.59 billion.
ACC Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam confirmed the matter to the media On Sunday,
According to the ACC charge sheet, the accused misused their positions in the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) to form a syndicate and commit irregularities in the manpower export process.
Instead of the government-fixed Tk 78,990, they had charged workers nearly five times more.
The ACC also stated that by using political influence, the accused bypassed the official recruitment process for Malaysia and sent workers illegally.
In the process, they took extra money for passports, medical tests, and other fees, resulting in the embezzlement and laundering of Tk 11.59 billion.
Earlier in March, the ACC had filed similar cases against former Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, former lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari, Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury (retd), former lawmaker Benzir Ahmed's company, and 12 other recruiting agencies.
According to ACC data, a total of 25 agencies and 64 accused are involved in this scam, having embezzled Tk 22.88 billion by charging extra money from workers.
In the newly filed 13 cases, the number of accused is 31.
The 13 recruiting agencies accused in the new case are Akash Bhraman Overseas, Winner Overseas, Shaheen Travels, Navira Limited, Adib Air Travels & Tours, United Manpower Consultancies Limited, Greenland Overseas, PR Overseas Limited, Jaharat Associates, Apurbo Recruiting Agency, M/s Jannat Overseas, Midway Overseas Limited, and South Point Overseas Limited.
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