A diagnostic centre in Dhaka’s Paltan area has been sealed by a mobile court after authorities found that it had conducted medical examinations and issued reports for workers travelling to Malaysia without government authorisation.
The action was taken on Thursday, 1 October, at Human Diagnostic and Medical Centre on Box Culvert Road. During the inspection, officials found several irregularities at the facility and subsequently shut down its operations.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment disclosed the information in a press release issued on Friday. According to the ministry, an examination of the centre’s own database showed that it had conducted medical tests and issued reports for 14 Malaysia-bound workers between 20 and 30 September.
The medical examinations were therefore carried out over an 11-day period. However, the centre did not have the necessary government approval to conduct medical examinations or issue reports for people preparing to travel to Malaysia for employment.
Medical clearance is a significant part of the overseas recruitment process. Workers seeking employment abroad generally have to complete a number of formal procedures before travelling, and medical documentation is among the requirements associated with overseas employment. The use of an unauthorised facility can consequently create uncertainty over the validity of medical reports and may lead to complications in the wider migration process.
The inspection in Paltan brought the issue to the attention of the authorities after the centre’s records revealed that it had been providing medical services to Malaysia-bound workers. Officials checked the establishment’s database and found records relating to 14 individuals who had undergone examinations and received reports during the period cited by the ministry.
The case also underscores the importance of ensuring that overseas-bound workers receive medical services through facilities that have the appropriate government approval. For people preparing to migrate for employment, medical examinations are not simply routine health checks; the resulting documentation can form part of the administrative process required before departure.
Workers may face additional difficulties if reports are obtained from facilities that are not authorised to provide the relevant services. Verifying the status of a medical facility before undergoing an examination can therefore help workers avoid unnecessary complications during the recruitment and migration process.
The ministry did not provide further details in its statement about any additional penalties imposed on the centre or whether separate legal proceedings would follow. Its statement, however, confirmed that the establishment had conducted examinations and issued reports for 14 Malaysia-bound individuals despite having no government authorisation for the activity.
Following the mobile court’s inspection on 1 October, Human Diagnostic and Medical Centre was sealed, bringing its operations to an immediate halt. The action forms part of the authorities’ oversight of services connected with overseas employment and highlights the requirement for medical testing related to migrant workers to be carried out through the approved system.
