Kamruzzaman Bablu :
A syndicate of ten designated recruiting agencies has allegedly pocketed at least Tk 5,500 crore in the process of sending Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia in the last two years.
It realised the money from about 1.85 lakh job jobseekers, who forced to pay extra fees for their medical tests before going to Malaysia.
“The syndicate had collected the money from the jobseekers in the name of medical test in designated medical centers in Dhaka. It forced the jobseekers to pay saying that they have failed to pass the test and now extra fees is required to overcome the hurdle. They deceived the innocent jobseekers by this way and pocketed a big amount,” alleged Shafiqul Alam Firoz, a manpower exporter and panel leader of ‘Sammilito Samonnoy Front’.
The panel is taking part in the upcoming Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) election by raising strong voice against the manpower exporting syndicate.
“The powerful syndicate took control of BAIRA’s leadership for last two years by flexing muscle power. It did a major harm to the country’s major manpower export market (Malaysia) and now it is again trying to grab the Association in the same manner raising concern among the Association’s general members,” said Shafiqul Alam Firoz.
He said after suspension of the G2G Plus mechanism, the workers will be sent to the country with the previous system.
“Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has said that they will prefer healthy completion to hire foreign workers. The workers will be received with a unique system from all source countries. After the announcement of the Malaysian PM, it’s clear that they will hire workers through the recruiting agencies. The government will look after the process only,” he added.
The 10 recruiting agencies that controlled the entire business under G2G Plus mechanism, are – Unique Eastern Pvt Ltd, Catharsis International Recruiting Agency, Prantik Travels and Tourism, Al Islam Overseas, Amin Tours and Travels, Shanjari International, Career Overseas Resources, ISMT Human Resources Development, Rabbi International and Passage Associates.
Former BAIRA President and owners of Unique Group Md. Noor Ali is the owner of Unique Eastern Pvt Ltd. Catharsis International Recruiting Agency’s owner Md. Ruhul Amin was the Secretary General of BAIRA for last two. Shanjari International’s owner Shaikh Abdullah was the former Secretary General of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB).
Former BAIRA President Md. Golam Mostafa is the owner of Prantik Travels and Tourism. Jainal Abedin Jafar, a director of the Padma Life Insurance Company, is the owners of Al Islam Overseas. Md. Ruhul Amin, Badrul Amin and their other brother are the owners of Career Overseas Resources. Businessman Arif Alam is the owners of Passage Associates.
BAIRA’s former social welfare secretary Mohammad Bashir is the owner of Rabbi International while Ariful Islam and Tuhin Siddqui are the owner of ISMT Human Resources Development and Ruhul Amin is the owner of Amin Tours and Travels.
BAIRA former secretary generals Ali Haider Chowdhury, Mansur Ahmed Kalam, former vice president Abul Barakat Bhuiyan, Firoz Alam, Abdul Alim, Abul Bashar and Siraj Uddin also attended the programme. Rejecting the allegations, former BAIRA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Swapan said they haven’t given any threat or pressure to any one of the candidates intends to participate the BAIRA election. It’s absolute propaganda of the opposition.
In the press conference, Noor Ali said they have not selected the 10 recruiting agencies that sent workers to the country under G2G plus system in last two years. Malaysian government has selected the names from a list of 749 agencies Bangladesh government gave them.
“No one of the jobseekers raised any allegation of taking extra charges against any agency. They were sent in a fair way. Additional 15 to 20 agencies were involved with each of the 10 recruiting agencies to send their workers. They have also done their business,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, despite threatening and pressure from different influential persons, the leaders of ‘Sammilito Samonnoy Front’, which is known as anti-syndicate alliance in the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), are adamant to submit nomination papers for their panel members on September 3 this year for contesting the BAIRA polls.
Expressing the pledge, panel leader of the Front Shafiqul Alam Firoz on Thursday told at a press conference that former FBCCI president Salman F. Rahman, who is a business partner of Unique Eastern’s owner Md. Noor Ali, has given him pressure not to contest the election.” In the press conference, they have disclosed the names of the syndicate members officially.
“They are using the name of the Prime Minister to refrain us from the election. I know the PM doesn’t have much time to interfere the BAIRA polls. No matter who is giving pressure or threat, we will contest the elections by any means. We won’t bow down to the syndicate,” he said while replying a query at the press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium.
But the former Secretary General of BAIRA Ruhul Amin Swapan rejected the allegations brought against them at another press conference held on Thursday at a city hotel at Gulshan in Dhaka.
