Bangladesh arrests ex-minister linked to labour exploitation in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – A former Bangladeshi minister allegedly responsible for jobs and recruitment of Bangladeshis overseas, including Malaysia, has been arrested on Monday.

According to New Straits Times, The ex-minister identified as Imran Ahmed was arrested to facilitate an investigation into large-scale labour exploitation involving Bangladeshis who were sent to Malaysia to work.

Imran had been overseeing overseas employment and welfare of its citizens up till January this year.

He was apprehended by the Dhaka police, The Business Standard (TBS) reported.

Dhaka deputy commissioner of police Obaidur Rahman confirmed the arrest to TBS but did not disclose the specific reason for his arrest.

TBS reported that the arrest resulted from a police report which was lodged last month by one of the owners of labour agency.

The complainant claimed that Imran, along with 103 others, was involved in an exploitation syndicate targeting desperate Bangladeshi workers seeking employment in Malaysia and also detailed the corruption and human trafficking elements linked to the alleged syndicate.

According to the report, the complainant disclosed details of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Imran and then-Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in December 2021, linking it to the workers’ exploitation.

It adds that the MoU signed by Saravanan had expired in February 2020 and a new agreement with new terms said to be valid until December 2026 had been signed.