FE REPORT
The government on Thursday appointed a new administrator to the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), aiming to ensure continuity and proper management under the legal framework.
The tenure of the current administrator will expire on April 27. The new administrator, Joint Secretary Mohammad Badrul Haque of the commerce ministry's Planning Cell, has been appointed for a four-month term starting April 28.
The Director General of Trade Organisation-2 under the commerce ministry made the appointment as per Section 17 of the Trade Organisations Act, 2022,
After assuming office, the new administrator will oversee day-to-day operations and arrange a fair and acceptable election. Upon completion of the election, he will hand over responsibilities to the newly elected committee and inform the commerce ministry.
BAIRA sources said the country's apex body of overseas recruitment agencies is facing a deep crisis, alleging that an influential syndicate has taken control in recent years. This has reportedly harmed the business interests of general members and tarnished Bangladesh's image in foreign labour markets.
Recruiting agency owners stressed that there is no alternative to elections to restore stability and ensure members' rights.
Stakeholders claim that policy decisions within BAIRA have been dominated by a small group of agencies. Due to this syndicate, many general agencies are losing access to major labour markets, including Malaysia.
As a result, migration costs have increased, and hundreds of legitimate agencies are on the verge of closure.
General members also alleged that BAIRA has turned into a tool serving a few individuals.
The biennial election of BAIRA remains pending. Following a writ petition, the High Court earlier extended the administrator's tenure by two months, set to expire on April 27.
The court also imposed a two-week stay on the election process for the 2026-2028 term, resulting in the suspension of the election schedule announced by the BAIRA Election Board on January 16, 2026.
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