Calls Raised for Action Against ALTAB-FAKRUL Gang for Allegedly Attempting to Undermine Bangladesh's Access to the Malaysian Labour Market

Staff Correspondent
As Bangladesh appears close to reopening its labour market with Malaysia following Prime Minister Tarek Rahman's recent visit to the country, fresh controversy has emerged over what some sources describe as coordinated efforts to obstruct the process.
British labour rights activist Andy Hall visited Bangladesh at the invitation of a group of individuals involved in the recruitment sector. On Sunday (July 5), Hall met with Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. According to ministry sources, Hall expressed concerns regarding the reopening of the Malaysian labour market, and the discussion reportedly became heated.
Ministry officials alleged that Hall's visit had been arranged by a group led by former BAIRA Joint Secretary Fakrul Islam, who, they claimed, sought to influence the government's approach to the Malaysian labour market. Hall, accompanied by several recruiting agency owners, reportedly urged the government to reconsider aspects of the labour market reopening, including issues related to the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS).
According to ministry sources, Minister Ariful Haque reiterated the government's positive position on reopening the labour market. They further claimed that Fakrul Islam repeatedly urged the minister to appoint Andy Hall as a foreign lobbyist, but the proposal was firmly rejected. Sources also alleged that Hall became agitated during the discussion and behaved inappropriately toward the minister. The minister, however, maintained diplomatic courtesy and left the meeting respectfully.
When contacted for comment, Minister Ariful Haque could not be reached. A ministry official said that Andy Hall, a British national, introduced himself as a labour rights activist and an expert on Malaysia's labour market. The official added that Hall's views were not considered persuasive and therefore did not influence the government's position.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Hall said:
"I came to Bangladesh hoping to contribute constructively to migration and labour development during what is an exciting period following the 2026 election. However, I was disappointed with the high-level government meeting on July 5. I arrived in Bangladesh on July 1 and spent July 2, 3 and 4 meeting recruiting agencies, civil society representatives and migrant worker groups. I advocated for a labour market that is open to all. Unfortunately, my meeting with government officials was not productive."
Businesspeople familiar with the matter alleged that Hall had been invited by a group involved in so-called "counter-setting" recruitment practices in Malaysia. They identified businessman Altab Hossain of Afifa Overseas and Fakrul Islam of the Human Resource Development Centre in Baridhara as key figures behind the initiative. These allegations have not been independently verified.
According to the same sources, Hall also met with migration activists associated with BRAC Malaysia during his visit.
Hall is a British national and a labour rights activist based in Malaysia. Some business sources alleged that he has previously advocated policies that would limit Bangladesh's access to the Malaysian labour market while favouring other labour-sending countries. They also alleged links between Hall and groups involved in irregular recruitment activities. Hall has publicly denied wrongdoing in the past, and these allegations could not be independently verified.
Sources further claimed that the same group had previously invited representatives of the Malaysia International Security Organisation for Foreign Nationals to Bangladesh in September 2024. Those individuals allegedly presented themselves as representatives of the Malaysian government and sought the temporary suspension of the Malaysian immigration software system, the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS).
According to the sources, a general diary (GD) was subsequently filed with Paltan Police Station by a businessman. The investigation reportedly concluded that the visitors were not official representatives of the Malaysian government. The sources claimed that they had instead travelled to Bangladesh at the invitation of the same group in an effort to influence the Malaysian labour market.