ACC sues 60 recruiting cos on charge of embezzling Tk 45b

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday filed separate cases against the owners, chairmen, managing directors, directors and others of 60 overseas recruiting companies on charge of embezzling Tk 45 billion.

They are accused of misappropriating the money by overcharging Malaysia-bound Bangladeshi workers.

The companies allegedly formed a syndicate while holding different positions in BAIRA.

They violated BAIRA's registration conditions and used political influence from the ruling party, it was alleged.

By doing so, they charged migrant workers several times higher than the government-fixed recruitment fee at Tk 78,990 under the Bangladesh-Malaysia agreement.

The accused companies were appointed as recruiting agents for sending workers to Malaysia.

But, instead of following the approved job offers, selection rules, and financial regulations, they intentionally allowed irregularities and corruption.

They also favoured certain recruiting agencies, harmed the recruited workers illegally, and took extra money at different stages outside the official contract to gain illegal profit.

As part of this criminal conspiracy, the accused received illegal payments, took unauthorised benefits, avoided duties they were supposed to perform under the contract, and used their political connections as influential BAIRA members to collect extra money.

They then concealed, transferred, and laundered the illegally obtained funds, according to the ACC.

Through this collusion and criminal breach of trust, they charged migrant workers several times more than the official cost and took extra money for passports, medical tests, and other fees. In total, the accused embezzled more than Tk 45 billion.

Such acts fall under Penal Code sections 120(B), 161, 162, 163, 164, 165(A), 420, 409 and sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

Earlier, 40 separate cases were filed against owners, chairmen, managing directors, and directors of 40 overseas companies involving Tk 34.38 billion and 108 accused

Those cases are still under investigation.

With the new 60 cases filed Wednesday, the total number of cases now stands at 100, with 232 accused, and the amount of embezzled stands at Tk 79.84 billion.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com