The Criminal Investigation Department filed a case against 14 individuals, including Noor Ali, owner of Unique Eastern (Pvt) Ltd, over allegations of a massive fraud in manpower exports to Malaysia, involving Tk 40.71 crore.
The case was lodged under Sections 4(2) and 4(4) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 with the Gulshan police on Sunday, according to a press release issued on Monday signed by CID special police super for media Jashim Uddin Khan.
Investigations revealed that Noor Ali and his accomplices overcharged聽 Bangladeshi workers seeking jobs abroad, the release said.
While the government-set fee was Tk 78,990 per worker, the syndicate reportedly charged up to Tk 1.50 lakh, citing passport processing, medical checks, Covid-19 tests, and clothing expenses as victims said they were misled and pressured into paying the extra amounts.
Between 2022 and 2024, the group sent 3,787 workers to Malaysia, systematically embezzling funds in the process.
Preliminary evidence suggests that all the 14 accused were involved in a coordinated conspiracy, making the case a clear instance of money laundering under Bangladeshi law, according to the release.
The CID鈥檚 Financial Crimes Division is now leading the investigation to recover embezzled funds and hold the syndicate accountable.
The backdrop of the scam lies in Malaysia鈥檚 2022 opening of its labour market to 15 source countries, including Bangladesh.
Authorities projected 5,00,000 workers would migrate, and about 4,50,000 were sent by May 2024.
The labour market, however, was abruptly closed to Bangladeshis after concerns were raised over corruption and irregularities in the recruitment process.
