The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh has filed cases against 64 individuals and 25 recruiting agencies, involving a total embezzlement of Tk 2,288 crore through human trafficking scams.

The Malaysian authorities authorized 100 private agencies to recruit Bangladeshi workers, but these agencies failed to meet the May 31, 2024 deadline due to corruption and irregularities, which were attributed to a syndicate of recruiters.

The recruitment agencies, collectively known as the 'syndicate,' were held responsible for the irregularities, including corruption and failure to send workers on time, highlighting systemic issues in the process.

Previously, charges had been filed against 33 individuals from 12 agencies, with the total embezzled amount reaching Tk 1,128 crore, making the current total of accused and stolen funds significantly higher.

The accused, including former and current officials of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) and Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), allegedly misused their positions to form a syndicate and conduct illegal activities.

The ACC alleges that agency officials exploited their positions to create a syndicate that charged Bangladeshi workers nearly five times the government-fixed fee of Tk 78,990, bypassing official recruitment channels through political influence.

A recent probe found widespread irregularities and mismanagement by recruiting agencies, with about 17,777 workers failing to board flights on time due to systemic corruption and inefficiencies.

The misconduct involved collecting extra fees for passports, medical tests, and other expenses, leading to the embezzlement and laundering of Tk 11.59 billion.

The latest case developments were announced by ACC Director General Akhter Hossain at the commission's office in Segunbagicha on September 14, 2025, with the case preparation nearing completion.

The case is in the final stage of preparation and will be formally lodged soon, following previous cases against 12 agencies linked to former officials and lawmakers.

The embezzlement occurred after Malaysia reopened its labor market in August 2022, during which over 532,000 quotas were allocated for Bangladeshi workers, with about 476,000 successfully reaching Malaysia.

The illegal gains were made through irregularities such as misuse of power and collecting extra fees for passports, health exams, and other services beyond official agreements.