MM Rahmatullah: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called for a transparent and fair labour market for Bangladeshi migrant workers, saying the country does not want any syndicate to control overseas recruitment.

“We do not want any syndicate; we want an environment for a fair labour market,” he said while addressing a national seminar titled “Syndicate and Malaysian Labour Market: Bangladesh’s Partnership” at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday.

The seminar was organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Abdus Salam Hall. Reports from the event confirmed that Dr Shafiqur made the remarks while raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia and other overseas destinations.

Dr Shafiqur said the problem was not confined to Malaysia but had become a wider concern in several Asian and Middle Eastern labour markets. He also referred to cases in which Bangladeshi citizens holding valid visas were reportedly returned from airports in the United Arab Emirates without being given clear explanations, with authorities allegedly telling them that their visas were invalid.

Such incidents, he said, not only affected the employment rights of Bangladeshi citizens but also hurt the dignity of the country. He questioned why the problems had remained unresolved for weeks and called upon the government to identify and address the reasons behind such incidents.

The Jamaat chief said Bangladesh should not allow migrant workers to become victims of exploitation by middlemen or recruitment syndicates.

He particularly criticised the reported selection of 25 agencies to work in Malaysia`s recruitment process, questioning the criteria used to select them and whether all the selected agencies had adequate experience. He demanded that the government make the selection process transparent and clarify whether anyone connected with the government was involved.

“We want the Malaysian labour market to reopen, but dishonest businesses or institutions must not be allowed to benefit from it,” he said.

Dr Shafiqur noted that Malaysia`s labour market for Bangladeshis had been closed three times in the past and said Bangladesh should not allow it to be closed for a fourth time. He described repeated disruptions in the market as damaging to the country`s interests.

He alleged that a syndicate associated with the previous political period remained active, although its outward appearance had changed. He said no individual should be protected if found to be involved in exploitation, adding that even if his own family member were part of such a syndicate, that person should be removed.

His comments echoed reports published after the seminar that he had threatened a broader movement against alleged syndicates in overseas labour markets if the government failed to take action.

The opposition leader said migrant workers should not merely be described as “remittance fighters” while their rights remained unprotected.

He also raised the issue of voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis, saying citizens should retain their voting rights whether they live inside or outside the country. Recent reports from the seminar similarly quoted him as saying that any move to exclude expatriate voters from local government elections would be unfair.

Dr Shafiqur said his party had been campaigning for voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis and maintained that their political rights should be protected.

He also announced that workers` rights would be incorporated into his party`s existing seven-point movement, making it an eight-point programme. He said the demands were intended to establish people`s rights rather than serve the interests of any particular political group or individual.

During his speech, Dr Shafiqur also criticised the government`s overall record, alleging that it had moved away from several commitments made before taking office. He referred to issues including the proposed referendum, implementation of the July Charter, judicial independence and the independence of institutions including the Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission and Election Commission.

These were political criticisms made by the opposition leader at the seminar; they represent his assessment of the government`s actions. Reports from the event also carried his criticism that the government was moving away from earlier commitments.

He said his party wanted to cooperate with the government wherever necessary, but would oppose policies that it believed exploited ordinary people.

“We want politics for the people and for the country, not for ourselves,” he said.

Dr Shafiqur also spoke against any attempt to restrict legitimate public expression through digital-security legislation. He said his party would oppose any law that was used to silence people`s voices. The Daily Star separately reported the same day that he opposed the proposed Cyber Security Act 2026 amendment if it were used to restrict legitimate expression.

The Jamaat Ameer urged recruitment agencies and other stakeholders in the manpower sector to come forward against exploitation while maintaining peace and social stability.

He said Bangladesh should learn from countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka and develop a labour-recruitment system in which workers could migrate for employment without being subjected to excessive costs, exploitation or opaque intermediaries.

He further alleged that syndicates existed in other sectors of the domestic economy and called for measures to dismantle such networks.

“We want peace in society; we do not want disorder,” he said, while stressing that the rights and welfare of ordinary people should remain at the centre of national policy.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP chaired the seminar, while Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka South Jamaat Secretary Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud MP moderated it.

The keynote paper was presented by Supreme Court senior lawyer Barrister Shahriar Kabir.

Among those who addressed the seminar were former diplomat and political thinker Sakib Ali; Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP; former MP Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad; Jamaat Central Executive Council Member Saiful Alam Khan Milon MP; Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer; Bangladesh Nizam-e-Islam Party Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Majed Atahari; Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan; Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran; Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abul Kashem Kashemi; Bangladesh Development Party President Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan; Jamaat Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka South Ameer Md Nurul Islam Bulbul MP; AB Party Shadow Affairs Secretary Barrister Abbas Islam Khan; Jamaat Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka North Secretary Dr Rezaul Karim; former Baira Joint Secretary General Md Fakhrul Islam; and Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation Central President Advocate Atiqur Rahman.

Leaders of the 11-party alliance and other national political figures also attended the seminar.

The discussion comes at a time when the future of Bangladesh`s overseas employment sector remains closely linked to the country`s ability to ensure transparent recruitment, protect migrant workers and maintain stable labour-market arrangements with destination countries.