CA for broker- and fraudulence-free overseas migration

Citing that Bangladesh is facing a deep and complex crisis in overseas employment due to entrenched broker syndicates, document forgery and systemic failures, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus Wednesday put emphasis on building a broker and fraudulence free system in sending workers abroad, reports BSS.

"Overseas migration has become dangerously entwined with brokers and fraud. Until we are free from this, there is no reason to believe that meaningful progress has been made," he said.

Highlighting different initiatives of the government to resolve the deep-rooted migration challenges, the Chief Adviser said, "Despite sincere efforts by the government, the scale of results we should have achieved has not been reached".

Many initiatives appear impressive on the surface, which are important too, but the government has so far been unable to penetrate the core of the broker-dominated system, he added.

Prof Yunus made the remarks while addressing a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here marking the International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day-2025. The day is observed on December 18 every year.

Recalling his experience with Grameen Bank, the Chief Adviser said he first came to know about the broker syndicate when requests started to come from rural women seeking loans from the bank to send their children abroad.

"The entire world is broker-controlled. It is nearly impossible to understand who took money from whom and for what reason. The government remains far away from this system," he said.

In this connection, the chief adviser said that this must be changed at any cost to take the country forward with earning remittances.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul spoke at the event as the special guest while Senior Secretary to the ministry Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan delivered the address of welcome.