Bangladesh has formally requested Malaysia to arrest and extradite Mohamed Aminul Islam, the founder of Bestinet Sdn Bhd, and his associate, Mohamad Ruhul Amin, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering, extortion, and migrant worker trafficking. The appeal, issued by Bangladesh’s Interpol branch, accuses both individuals of exploiting migrant workers through Bestinet’s Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), a platform used by the Malaysian government for processing migrant worker visas.
According to a letter sent on October 24 by Dhaka’s Interpol office to its Malaysian counterpart, Aminul and Ruhul allegedly “fraudulently extorted money from the victims” and subjected migrant workers to “physical and mental torture.” The letter suggests that under their leadership, the workers faced steep fees, emotional abuse, and economic exploitation, exacerbating the workers’ vulnerabilities in a foreign land. Bangladesh’s law enforcement has connected the allegations to a complex scheme where fees were inflated to exploit Bangladeshi workers hoping to secure employment in Malaysia.
A senior Bangladeshi government official confirmed to Bloomberg that the letter marks a critical step in addressing the widespread abuse in the region’s migrant labor system, although it does not explicitly state if the two men have been formally charged. This development signifies a shift towards tighter controls on illicit recruitment practices that have reportedly impacted hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi migrants.
Following the extradition request, Malaysian authorities have reportedly asked for additional formalities before considering the transfer. According to Dhaka police inspector Ashiqur Rahman, Malaysia has requested a comprehensive, formal extradition application, which Bangladeshi authorities are now preparing. As of November 6, neither Malaysia’s police force nor the home and foreign affairs ministries have publicly commented on the situation.
Aminul’s legal representation has rejected the allegations, stating that neither Aminul nor Ruhul has received any formal notification regarding the charges from Bangladeshi law enforcement. Similarly, a representative for Catharsis International, a recruitment firm linked to Ruhul, defended him, claiming that he has always adhered to “legal, legitimate, and ethical” business practices.
Bestinet, through statements from its current CEO, Ismail Mohd Noor, has denied any involvement in illicit activities or fraudulent practices. In a September 23 interview with Malaysiakini, Noor clarified that the company does not charge “syndicate fees” and only collects fees approved by Malaysian authorities. He further emphasized that Aminul no longer holds any operational role in the company since stepping down as chairman in July 2023, though he remains a shareholder. These public statements suggest that Bestinet aims to distance itself from the allegations while maintaining its market presence as a key player in the migrant labor processing sector.
Bestinet’s FWCMS has been central to Malaysia’s handling of migrant labor since its introduction in 2013, managing visa applications for workers from 15 countries, including Bangladesh. Despite its touted success, FWCMS has faced criticism for alleged opaque practices and exorbitant fees charged to applicants, which many advocates argue has exacerbated exploitation risks for vulnerable migrant populations.
Reports by Bangladesh’s investigative media outlets suggest that Aminul and Ruhul may be orchestrating an extensive money laundering operation under the guise of recruitment services. In a high-profile exposé by Prothom Alo on September 18, both men were alleged to have influenced a network of 100 agencies that imposed undue charges on migrant workers. According to the investigation, these agencies demanded fees far above the government-regulated rates, allegedly channeling the excess through Bestinet as a “syndicate fee.” Prothom Alo estimates that approximately 50 billion Bangladeshi taka (around USD 455 million) has been funneled through this network.
This syndicate fee reportedly led to a total cost per worker nearing 107,000 Bangladeshi taka (about USD 900), a stark contrast to the official registration fee of 2,700 taka (USD 22.59). A significant portion of this amount was allegedly diverted to Bestinet via illicit means, fueling concerns of systemic corruption within both countries’ labor export systems.
The latest revelations come in the wake of Malaysia’s labor market scandal, wherein tens of thousands of Bangladeshi workers were deceived into paying as much as USD 5,000 in advance for jobs that turned out to be non-existent. Stranded in a foreign country with no legal employment options, these workers faced mounting debts and became vulnerable to further exploitation. In response, Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry imposed a deadline of May 31, 2023, for halting new migrant worker intakes, but the impact on workers already in the country remains uncertain.
Local recruitment agents in Bangladesh report that these illicit charges significantly burden workers, trapping them in cycles of debt and, often, forcing them into illegal employment to pay off fees. The scam has not only highlighted weaknesses in Malaysia’s foreign labor policies but has also cast a spotlight on the shadowy recruitment networks in Bangladesh that continue to profit from desperate job seekers.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has escalated its crackdown on these transnational syndicates, which allegedly collaborate with Malaysian counterparts. The ACC’s efforts aim to dismantle the network of recruitment and labor exploitation that has exploited Bangladesh’s labor export industry for years, with Bestinet identified as a significant actor in this ecosystem.
In August 2023, CNA reported that these syndicates represent a complex challenge for Malaysia, which relies on foreign labor for nearly 30 percent of its workforce. Of the country’s 17 million-strong labor force, more than 400,000 are documented Bangladeshi workers, with thousands more residing without proper documentation. This reliance underscores the critical role that Bangladeshi labor plays in Malaysia’s economy, particularly in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. For these industries, the crackdown could lead to labor shortages, further complicating Malaysia’s ability to maintain its economic output without the influx of Bangladeshi workers.
As the investigation intensifies, Bangladeshi authorities have urged Malaysia to suspend Bestinet’s FWCMS system, citing concerns over its alleged role in the exploitation network. The system, which has served as the backbone of Malaysia’s foreign worker management since 2013, was developed to streamline visa applications and minimize corruption. However, critics argue that the technology may inadvertently facilitate exploitation by providing centralized control over the labor supply.
The latest allegations renew calls for reforms in migrant worker intake systems that prioritize transparency and protect workers from exploitation. Labor activists and international rights groups have urged both the Bangladeshi and Malaysian governments to implement stricter regulations, introduce independent oversight mechanisms, and ensure affordable application fees for workers.
