Foreign-linked firm faces dues allegations
A foreign-invested garment sourcing firm in Bangladesh has come under scrutiny amid allegations that disputed documents were used to deny an expatriate employee his employment-related dues, with the matter now under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department.
The allegations centre on Poeticgem International Limited, a local entity associated with Hong Kong-headquartered PDS Limited, which is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.
An Indian expatriate employee has accused the company of cancelling his work permit on the basis of a disputed resignation document and subsequently depriving him of dues. The complaint is being examined following an order from the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka.
Sub-Inspector Harunur Rashid, who is leading the probe, confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing. “Until the investigation is completed, he cannot say whether the allegation against the Poeticgem International Ltd is true,” he said, adding that the process may take another month.
In response, the company has filed a counter criminal case. Badruzzaman Sumon, Senior Manager (HRBP), alleged that the employee engaged in misconduct, including spreading “false propaganda” to buyers through a purported fake email account and leaking confidential information, resulting in claimed losses of Tk 135 crore. He declined further comment on the document-related allegations.
According to court filings, the employee was informed on 31 July 2025 via a Microsoft Teams call that his employment was being terminated due to cost-cutting. An email dated 1 August reportedly acknowledged the termination and indicated settlement within a week. However, subsequent records allegedly classified the separation as a voluntary resignation.
The employee claims a resignation letter bearing a digital signature was created while he was outside Bangladesh, with passport and immigration records submitted in support. Legal experts note that, if proven, such actions could fall under forgery provisions of the Penal Code.
A settlement offer of USD 151,600 was reportedly made on 9 August 2025, while the employee’s claim stands at USD 917,393, citing 13 years of service and contractual entitlements. Parallel proceedings are ongoing before both the Labour Court and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka.
The Labour Court filing argues the employee qualifies as a “worker” under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, making the classification of termination versus resignation central to the dispute.
The employee has also approached the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, and Indian market regulators, raising concerns over disclosure compliance.
