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Monday | October 05, 2026 | Dhaka

49 agencies lose licences: SC

Agencies accused of forming syndicate, workers for Malaysia jobs
 Court Correspondent
 Published: 12:02 AM, 05 October 2026

The Supreme Court on Sunday restored the government’s decision to cancel the licences of 49 recruiting agencies over allegations of irregularities in sending workers to Malaysia.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque stayed a High Court order that had earlier suspended the government’s decision following a writ petition filed by some of the agencies.
Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal confirmed the development to reporters.

The chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment challenging the High Court order.

The ministry, in a notification issued on July 19, cancelled the licences of the 49 recruiting agencies over their alleged involvement in a syndicate that controlled Bangladesh’s labour recruitment market for Malaysia between 2022 and 2024.

The agencies are accused of forming a recruitment syndicate, embezzling several thousand crore taka from migrant workers and laundering the proceeds abroad.

A human trafficking case was filed with Paltan Police Station over allegations that the agencies sent workers to Malaysia through the syndicate while charging them excessive recruitment fees.

After the investigating officer submitted a charge sheet against the 49 agencies, the ministry revoked their licences.

The agencies include Orbitals Enterprise, owned by Kashmery Kamal, wife of former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal; Snigdha Overseas, owned by former Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari; Ahmed International, owned by former Awami League MP Benazir Ahmed; and 5M International, owned by former Jatiya Party MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury.