The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has written to the expatriate welfare ministry to open an inquiry over the reported incidents of harassment, persecution and bribery by Bangladesh mission officials in Brunei.
On Sunday (Feb 2), ACC Director General (Special Investigations) Sayeed Mahbub Khan forwarded a letter to the ministry regarding the matter.
According to the letter, the ministry was asked to file a report within 30 days over the alleged corruptions and harassments by the mission’s First Secretary (Labour) Jelal Hossain and interpreter Abu Naiem.
“The syndicate of the duo (Jehal and Naiem) is exploiting the expatriate workers and businesspersons, while they are responsible for protecting their interests. They are harassing the expatriates to cover-up their corruptions and failures,” reads the letter.
“Many migrant workers had to return home between October and December last year after being accused in several cases. Some of the workers' passports were cancelled due to alleged human trafficking,” it said.
“The victims sought ACC’s assistance after their complaints at the concerned ministry failed to fetch a solution,” it added.
Kamrul Hasan, who is one of the victims, has filed a case over alleged harassment against the high commission officials.
The incident, which the victim said to be harassment for protesting irregularities at the mission in Brunei, was reported on social media and received severe public criticism.
On Mar 7 last year, one Monir Hossain was reportedly assaulted for protesting against irregularities at the Dhaka mission office in Brunei. He filed a case with the local police.
According to Hossain, he was threatened by embassy officials to withdraw the case.
He was later accused in a human trafficking case before being deported from Brunei.