CA for broker and fraud-free overseas employment

Staff Reporter :

Stating that Bangladesh is grappling with a serious and multifaceted crisis in overseas employment due to entrenched broker syndicates, document forgery and systemic weaknesses, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday stressed the need to establish a broker- and fraud-free system for sending workers abroad.

“Overseas migration has become dangerously entangled with brokers and fraud. Until we free ourselves from this reality, there is no reason to believe that meaningful progress has been achieved,” he said.

While highlighting various initiatives undertaken by the government to address the long-standing challenges in the migration sector, the Chief Adviser admitted that the expected outcomes have yet to be realized.

“Despite sincere efforts by the government, we have not achieved results on the scale we should have,” he noted, adding that many initiatives appear impressive on the surface but have failed to break through the broker-dominated structure at the core of the system.

Professor Yunus made the remarks while addressing a programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium marking International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day-2025, observed annually on December 18.

Recalling his experience with Grameen Bank, he said he first became aware of the pervasive broker syndicate when rural women began seeking loans to send their children abroad.

“The entire system worldwide is controlled by brokers. It is nearly impossible to trace who paid whom and for what purpose. The government remains distant from this network,” he said, stressing that the situation must change at any cost to ensure sustainable remittance earnings.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul attended the event as a special guest, while Senior Secretary Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan delivered the welcome address.

At the programme, 86 Bangladeshi expatriates were honoured as Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) under three categories: one for direct industrial investment in Bangladesh, 75 for remitting the highest amounts through legal channels, and 10 for exporting Bangladeshi products worldwide.

Among them, Kallal Ahmed, Md Abdul Karim and Md Mahmudur Rahman Khan received crests from the Chief Adviser under the respective categories.

Professor Yunus also distributed cheques for insurance benefits, medical assistance, financial aid, compensation and scholarships for meritorious children of expatriate workers.

Raju Ahmed, an expatriate in Croatia, and Shahnara Akter Shanu, a returnee from Saudi Arabia, shared their experiences during the event.

The programme began with the screening of a documentary highlighting the role of expatriate Bangladeshis in the 2024 July Uprising and their contribution to the national economy, alongside the government’s efforts to ensure their welfare.

Professor Asif Nazrul later handed over a task force report on reforms and strategic realignment of the ministry to the Chief Adviser.

Reflecting on government initiatives to protect migrant workers, Professor Yunus said that after assuming office, his administration took steps to secure the release of Bangladeshi migrants jailed abroad for participating in demonstrations in support of the July Uprising.

“We appealed to those countries, explaining that they were not criminals. They violated laws emotionally, not maliciously,” he said.

He noted that although the expatriates were aware of the legal consequences in their host countries, their deep emotional attachment to the homeland compelled them to act.

Professor Yunus also recalled discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Bangladesh last year, which helped resolve issues faced by thousands of Bangladeshi workers who had paid full costs but failed to travel.

Highlighting missed global opportunities despite high demand for labour, he said Japan alone could absorb hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi workers.

Referring to his visit to Japan this year, he said the country readily accepted Bangladesh’s proposal to send 100,000 workers over the next five years.

“If we wanted to send 500,000 workers today, Japan would accept them,” he said, adding that language proficiency and vocational skills are the primary requirements.

“Imagine what happens to a person who spends five years working in Japan-their destiny changes completely,” he added.

Addressing document forgery, Professor Yunus said it has severely damaged Bangladesh’s global image.

Citing visa restrictions imposed by several Middle Eastern countries over fake documents, he said, “Bangladesh has become infamous worldwide for forged papers.”

He mentioned instances where Bangladeshi seafarers were barred from disembarking at foreign ports due to mistrust of documents, calling it a tragic reality.

However, he noted that the issue had been resolved through government efforts, while doors to some countries are gradually reopening.

Rejecting claims of skill shortages, the Chief Adviser pointed to the success of Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy, the UK and elsewhere.

“Bangladeshi chefs are among the best. They did not learn their skills in training centres but through resilience and intelligence,” he said, adding that Bangladeshis quickly acquire foreign languages such as Italian, Russian and English.

Describing Bangladesh as a “gold mine of youth,” he said nearly 90 million people in the country are under 27 years of age.

“The world is desperately searching for young people. They must come here to recruit them,” he said, describing youth as more valuable than oil or rare minerals.

He stressed the importance of preparing young people to meet global labour demands, noting, “When someone goes abroad, they take the country with them-they do not leave it behind.”

Emphasising that the core challenge lies in systems rather than finances, Professor Yunus said, “This is a matter of discipline and governance. If we fail to use this gold mine properly, our destiny will never change.”

He called for creating the right opportunities to ensure the best use of the country’s youth potential.