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A growing human trafficking network is exploiting desperate Bangladeshi workers, luring them to Malaysia with false promises of employment through tourist visas, only to subject them to abuse, extortion, and deportation. The closure of Malaysia’s labour market to Bangladeshi workers since May 31, 2024, has fueled illegal syndicates, leaving thousands jobless and traumatized.Mozaffar Ahmad, from Bamubil Chhari union in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria upazila, is one such victim. Unable to secure a work visa, he paid Tk4.8 lakh to a broker who promised a job in Malaysia via a tourist visa, with a work permit to follow. Departing on January 24, 2025, Ahmad was instead extorted for an additional Tk1.2 lakh, tortured, and jailed for nearly three months before being deported on May 10. “They took everything from me,” a tearful Ahmad told journalists. “I’ve lost everything and now face debts I can’t repay.”
Ahmad’s story is not unique. Over 400 Bangladeshis have been deported from Malaysia in the past seven months, with 356 turned back at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and 70 jailed before deportation. On January 26, 12 Bangladeshis were detained for posing as trainees with fake documents. On February 21, 45 were held for suspicious behavior at the airport. Further crackdowns on July 14 and July 25 saw 96 and 203 individuals, respectively, repatriated for inadequate documentation and unclear travel purposes. Additionally, over 300 were arrested in raids, with 70 serving prison terms for immigration violations.
Malaysia’s labour market remains closed due to allegations of corruption, with negotiations stalled over the use of a syndicate-based recruitment system. Dr Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, explained, “Malaysia insists on using designated recruiting agencies, which we call the ‘syndicate.’ We either work with their agencies or stop sending workers altogether.” Efforts to resolve the issue, including Dr Nazrul’s May visit to Malaysia and two Dhaka-based committee meetings, have yielded no progress.
Dr Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the caretaker government, will visit Malaysia on August 11 to discuss reopening the labour market. Migration expert Dr Tasneem Siddiqui of RMMRU emphasized the urgency: “The closure of legal channels fuels illegal migration. Political consensus is needed to reopen the market, critical for our economy.”
Until legal pathways are restored, experts warn the trafficking crisis will persist, trapping more Bangladeshis in cycles of exploitation and debt.
