Controversial businessman and former BAIRA secretary general Ruhul Amin Swapan has been accused of embezzling over Tk800 crore from migrant workers under the guise of sending them to Malaysia.

Allegations suggest that Swapan and his syndicate siphoned off money through a so-called medical business tied to the overseas employment process.

Investigations reveal that nearly eight lakh workers were made to pay inflated fees for mandatory medical checkups through select centres—reportedly controlled by Swapan’s syndicate.

Experts say a vested group has long exploited weak regulatory frameworks in the name of labour export to Malaysia and called for a coordinated investigation, swift trial, and strict legal action against those involved.

Swapan played a key role in a tightly controlled syndicate that operated through his firms—Meem Medical and Catharsis Medical—allegedly extorting hundreds of crores from aspiring migrant workers. Both entities are affiliated with Catharsis Group, owned by Swapan, and are directly linked to Catharsis International, one of the 25 recruiting agencies under the syndicate.

Following the reopening of Malaysia’s labour market in August 2022, around 494,000 Bangladeshi workers were sent there. Although the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment permits medical tests at any approved facility, only a handful—reportedly under Swapan’s control—were allowed to conduct tests for Malaysia-bound workers.

As a result, each worker paid between Tk10,000 and Tk30,000 for medical screening. From August 2022 to 31 May 2024, about 494,000 workers managed to migrate, while another 18,000 were unable to go despite completing formalities. Medical fees collected from both groups amount to over Tk500 crore. Recruiters claim an additional 300,000 workers also underwent medical exams through this syndicate but could not proceed—bringing the total embezzled amount to over Tk800 crore.

A large portion of this money is believed to have been laundered abroad through various channels. Meem Medical and Catharsis Medical reportedly collected excessive fees and distributed the funds among syndicate members.

There are also allegations that some centres issued ‘fitness certificates’ without conducting any medical tests, endangering workers’ health abroad. One victim, requesting anonymity, said, “My brother was issued a certificate without any actual test. He later fell seriously ill in Malaysia, and we discovered the medical report was fake.”

Further investigation shows that 17,777 workers could not travel to Malaysia despite completing all procedures. In reality, the number of victims may be much higher, as thousands reportedly paid agents and completed medical tests but were never able to migrate.

Workers suffer amid irregularities in medical tests

Rabbi Hossain, a resident of Sadar upazila in Patuakhali, underwent medical tests at a centre under the recruiting agency Mohammad Nuruzzaman & Sons Ltd (RL-705) for a job in Malaysia. He had to spend Tk21,000 for two separate tests.

“I did the medical twice—first for Tk11,000 and then Tk10,000. The agency couldn’t provide the visa within three months of the first test, making the medical certificate invalid. So I had to do it again,” Rabbi said, adding “What was the point of doing all this? I won’t even get the money back.”

Abul Khair and his nephew Abu Kawsar had to pay Tk30,000 in total for their medical exams. Hanif Shikdar, Abu Kawsar’s father, said, “I arranged medical tests for my son and brother in the capital's Paltan. They charged Tk15,000 per person. It took multiple appointments, and we had to spend extra for snacks and medicine—another Tk3,000 each—before the tests were completed.”

Another aspiring worker Sajib Ahmed Kamal said, “I paid Tk10,000 for the medical, but before I could travel, the validity expired. They asked me to do it again, and then the Malaysian visa process got halted. Till now, recruiting agency Asha International (RL-1597) hasn’t refunded a single taka.”

Nazrul Sarkar from Sherpur upazila in Bogura also said he spent Tk10,000 for a medical test at a centre in Rampura, Dhaka.

A medical centre owner, requesting anonymity, told journalists, “Although only about five lakh workers ultimately went to Malaysia, 20 to 25 lakh were made to undergo medical tests. Most were forced to get tested at Meem Medical or Catharsis Medical. Others had to go through 47 syndicate-approved centres.”

He added, “Even if tests were done elsewhere, Tk3,000 per worker had to be sent to Swapon’s office. Otherwise, they would claim the report was invalid and force the workers to repeat the test.”

Swapon’s involvement in hundi

Law enforcement agencies suspect that Ruhul Amin Swapon, owner of Catharsis International, is involved in money laundering via banking transactions, mobile financial services, and hundi operations. Financial dealings between Catharsis International’s bank account and those of Meem Medical and Catharsis Medical are under scrutiny.

Anti-Corruption Commission officials said at least 12 bank accounts under Swapon’s or his family’s names were identified, with transactions totalling around Tk950 crore in the past two years. He allegedly concealed earnings from manpower exports and showed them as remittances to evade taxes.

Investigations revealed that Swapon earned crores of taka under the guise of inward commercial remittance from countries including Malaysia. However, this taxable income was not declared in his tax returns.

Though Catharsis International had an agreement with Malaysia's Redwood Furniture Company to send workers, Swapon reportedly claimed the payment as remittance to avoid tax and received government incentives as well.

According to the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), between tax years 2010 and 2021, Swapon invested Tk139 crore in Wage Earners' Development Bonds and Tk1.48 crore in US Dollar Investment Bonds—most of which were not reported in his tax filings.

When this reporter attempted to reach Ruhul Amin Swapon for comment, both his regular and WhatsApp numbers were found switched off.