Chronology of Investigation
03 September 2024 – Filing of the Case at Paltan Police Station:
Altab Khan, proprietor of Afia Overseas, filed a case at Paltan Police Station against a total of 103 individuals, including the owners of all Malaysian government-listed recruiting agencies (excluding BOESL), the former Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare, and the former Senior Secretary. Charges of breach of trust, cheating, organized planned crime, and extortion were brought under Sections 406/420/385/427/34 of the Penal Code, alongside human trafficking allegations under Sections 6/7/8/9/10 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012.
15 July 2025 – CID Submits Final Report:
Following an extensive investigation, the CID found no admissible evidence in support of the human trafficking allegations and submitted a final report to the court recommending the discharge of all accused persons. Concurrently, the report recommended taking legal action against the plaintiff, Altab Khan, under Section 15 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, for filing a false case.
04 September 2025 – Plaintiff’s Naraji (Protest) Petition:
Despite the absence of any complaints from workers employed in Malaysia through the listed recruiting agencies, the plaintiff, Altab Khan, rejected the CID’s report and filed a Naraji petition in court. In the petition, he alleged that the investigating officer submitted a fabricated report without properly interrogating the complainant and witnesses.
12 November 2025 – Human Trafficking Allegation Referred to DB Motijheel for Re-investigation:
Following a hearing in the court of Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Human Trafficking Offence Prevention Tribunal, under the directives of the District and Sessions Judge Court, an order was issued for a re-investigation into the human trafficking charges and assigned to DB, Motijheel.
12 November 2025 – Penal Code Allegations Referred to DB Cyber Crime for Re-investigation:
Under the directives of Judge Mohammad Sabbir Foyez of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, a re-investigation was ordered regarding the charges of fraud, breach of trust, and extortion, transferring the investigation to the DB, Cyber Crime Division.
30 November 2025 – Confessional Statement by Accused No. 12:
Accused No. 12 in the case, S.M. Rafiq, Managing Director of United Export, provided a confessional statement in favor of the plaintiff under Sections 161 and 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In his deposition, he named 10 accused individuals and alleged extortion through the formation of a syndicate in the Malaysian labor market in coordination with the remaining accused.
28 December 2025 – Retraction of the Confession:
Within a span of only 28 days, S.M. Rafiq retracted the confession in court. In his withdrawal application, he claimed that the statement was not made voluntarily. He alleged that the investigating officer, Inspector Mohammad Anwar Hossain Khan (BP: 7804099150), Illegal Arms Recovery and Narcotics Control Team, Detective Branch, DMP, forcibly extracted the false confession by threatening him and his family with implication in political cases and subjecting him to physical and mental coercion.
22 May 2026 – DB Submits Final Report and Charge Sheet:
Following the re-investigation, DB stated that no sufficient or credible evidence was found to substantiate the allegations of human trafficking.
- The final report recommended discharging the accused from the human trafficking charges.
- A charge sheet was filed under relevant sections of the Penal Code, including fraud, against 52 individuals, including the former Minister and the former Secretary, while the remaining 51 individuals were recommended for discharge from the case.
14 June 2026 – Court Accepts the Charge Sheet:
An order was issued by the Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court accepting the charge sheet submitted by the investigating officer and taking cognizance of the offenses for trial against 51 accused. Furthermore, according to available details, 52 accused persons were discharged from the liabilities of the case.
The Nation Bears the Burden of Loss
Two separate investigative agencies found no evidence supporting the core allegation of human trafficking. Yet, the nearly two-year-long legal proceedings surrounding this case have virtually brought Bangladesh’s participation in the Malaysian labor market to a standstill. Legitimate and compliant recruiting agencies have been rendered incapable of conducting normal operations under the weight of litigation. Consequently, thousands of aspiring job seekers are losing employment opportunities, while the state is deprived of remittances worth billions. Unless this legal impasse is resolved swiftly and fairly, the future of Bangladesh’s labor market in Malaysia will sink into deeper uncertainty.
