Despite the official cost being set at Tk 79,000 per person for sending workers to Malaysia, recruiting agencies in Bangladesh have reportedly been charging up to Tk 500,000 from each applicant. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered that 13 agencies—allegedly favored by the former Awami League government—have misappropriated around Tk 1,200 crore over a span of three years. Investigations revealed that one of the firms, Akash Bhraman Ltd. in Fakirapool, alone embezzled over Tk 135 crore. These agencies formed a syndicate under the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) and used deceptive means to exploit aspiring migrant workers. The ACC has recommended filing separate cases against each of the 13 firms involved. Earlier in March, lawsuits were filed against owners of 12 recruiting firms for misappropriating over Tk 1,128 crore under the pretense of labor migration to Malaysia. Critics, including BAIRA’s former joint secretary Fakhrul Islam, allege that a politically connected syndicate is still operating with impunity, while migration experts warn that the unchecked activities of these agencies could severely damage Bangladesh's overseas job market.