Bedlam at Baira over ‘syndication’
Chaos overshadowed a meeting of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) yesterday as attending members created chaotic situations on more than one occasions over alleged "syndication" in sending migrant workers to Malaysia.
During the incident, a journalist covering the event was allegedly manhandled by some of Baira members.
The apex trade body of recruiting agencies organised the meeting at a city hotel demanding opportunity for all of its members to send migrant workers to Malaysia, ahead of Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's upcoming visit to Bangladesh.
However, at the beginning of the meeting, when a Baira member took to the podium and alleged that several of its executive committee members are part of the "syndicate", a section of the members from the audience started to make noise.
This continued for several minutes as senior Baira leaders including its President Abul Basher, who was moderating the event, were forced to halt the meeting and calm down the audience.
The situation became normal following an on-duty police official taking to the podium and urging everyone to maintain discipline inside the venue.
Chaotic situation was created again towards the latter part of the event when Baira Joint Secretary Fakhrul Islam took to the podium and started to talk about the syndicate issue.
Amid the situation, some of Baira members allegedly manhandled and misbehaved with one of the journalists.
Later, talking with reporters, Basher said he will take action against the culprits after identifying them going through video footage.
Asked about the chaotic situation, Basher said a section of "beneficiaries from the syndicate" might have demonstrated thinking of counting loss if the market is opened for all.
According to Baira members, only 100 recruiting agencies are allowed to send migrant workers to Malaysia at present, after the market was reopened last year following a four-year suspension.
Initially, 25 agencies were allowed to send migrant workers there, which was labelled by sector insiders as "syndicate".
According to the Baira website, it has more than 1,700 active members at present.
At the meeting, former secretary general of Baira Ali Haider Chowdhury said the chaotic incident left him disheartened.
"Baira has become an institution over the years. However, today's incident has hurt me," he said, urging Baira members to keep patience and work for a common cause.
Among others, Baira Secretary General Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, executive committee member Ruhul Amin Shwapon, and former president Benjir Ahmed spoke.