A sophisticated syndicate in Bangladesh has been manipulating the immigration system to defraud rural villagers seeking employment in Malaysia. Investigations reveal the use of fake trade licenses, counterfeit bank solvency certificates, and forged identification documents, all designed to appear legitimate at immigration counters. In addition, boarding passes marked with codes such as “SL,” “SS-OK,” and “Ops-OK”, alongside forged signatures, have been used to facilitate the illegal deployment of workers abroad.
According to sources, SP of the Special Branch, Samrat Mohammad Abu Sufian, is allegedly linked to the operation. Middlemen and recruitment agencies reportedly work under his supervision, while Faruk Sheikh, Managing Director of Air Clouds Tours & Travels, is said to oversee the creation of fake documents, issuance of tickets, and dispatch of the workers.
The syndicate primarily targets rural residents, charging between BDT 300,000 and 570,000 per worker for the processing of overseas employment. Despite the high fees, many of the victims encounter severe difficulties abroad, including detention, unpaid labour, or being sent back to Bangladesh. In one instance, Ratin Shikdar from Narail was returned from Malaysia on three separate occasions after falling victim to fraudulent practices.
Airport sources claim that even after being transferred, SP Samrat continues to authorise illegal clearance for hundreds of workers daily, charging BDT 50,000 per individual. Faruk Sheikh is reported to have offered fake documentation services for BDT 80,000–85,000.
Highlighting the systemic issues, Shariful Islam Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC, stated that restrictions on legal overseas employment exacerbate fraudulent schemes, noting that without adequately trained officers and technological support, preventing such scams is extremely difficult.
Authorities have confirmed that both SP Samrat and Faruk Sheikh have denied the allegations, while investigations continue to verify the extent of the fraud and identify additional victims. The case has drawn widespread attention to the vulnerabilities within the country’s worker deployment system, particularly affecting rural communities who rely heavily on overseas employment for financial support.
The government has been urged to strengthen oversight mechanisms at immigration checkpoints, improve verification technology, and ensure accountability among officials to curb the exploitation of prospective overseas workers.