Before you pay any fee or hand over your passport, check that your recruitment agency really has a valid BMET license.
- Look up the agency’s license number on BMET’s public Overseas Employment Platform agent list before you pay anything.
- Check the same agency on the BAIRA member list too, as a second, independent check.
- A license number is not enough on its own; the status must say “Active,” not expired, cancelled, or suspended.
- Genuine agencies never ask for large cash payments upfront, and always give you a written, government-format contract.
- If you’ve already paid a suspicious agency, report it to BMET and your local District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO) right away.
How to check if a recruitment agency is BMET-licensed
Every agency allowed to send Bangladeshi workers abroad for jobs must hold a recruiting license from BMET, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. This license number is called an RL number. Checking it takes three simple steps.
Cross-check with the BAIRA member list
BAIRA stands for the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies. It keeps its own list of around 2,400 member agencies. Search this list at baira.org.bd by agency name or RL number, as a second, independent check.
If an agency matches on both BMET’s list and the BAIRA list, that is a good sign. If it appears on neither list, treat that as a serious warning — not a small detail to overlook.
Signs of a legitimate agency vs. red flags of a fraudulent one
Genuine BMET-licensed agencies and fraudulent ones tend to behave very differently. Compare your recruiter against both lists below before you pay any money or sign anything.
- Shares its RL number freely, and it matches on both BMET’s list and the BAIRA list.
- Gives you a written contract in the official government format before you pay anything.
- Tells you the real government service fee and gives you a receipt for every payment.
- Helps you get your BMET emigration clearance and pre-departure training as a normal, documented part of the process.
- Tells you the real employer and job, and lets you check the job offer yourself.
- Asks for a large cash payment upfront, before showing you any contract or job offer.
- Refuses to give a written contract, or only gives one after you’ve already paid.
- Cannot give you an RL number, or gives one that does not match BMET’s or BAIRA’s records.
- Says it can skip BMET clearance, or offers to send you on a tourist visa for a “job.”
- Works through an unlicensed middleman — often called a dalal — instead of its own registered office.
Why fraud persists despite the licensing system
Bangladesh has had a licensed recruiting agency system for years. But most workers still reach it through an informal middleman first.
In one survey of first-time migrants, about 80 percent were first contacted by a dalal, an unlicensed local broker. The dalal then passed them on to a licensed agency, adding extra cost and risk before the worker ever reaches the licensed system.
Some scams even misuse BMET’s good name to look official, so workers believe they are fully verified. Only later do they discover the job or visa was fake all along.
This is why checking the agency’s actual license — not just the paperwork it hands you — matters so much.
Wego’s BMET registration guide covers the emigration clearance card process in detail, and a genuine, licensed agency will guide you through that same process once you’ve confirmed it’s real. From there you can check your clearance status and download your smart card, and complete the mandatory 3-day pre-departure orientation before you fly.
What to do if you’ve already paid a suspicious agency
Stop making any further payments right away. Gather every document you have: receipts, the contract (if any), and any messages or calls with the agency.
- File a complaint with BMET headquarters in Dhaka, in person or by phone, with your documents.
- If the agency claims BAIRA membership, report it to BAIRA too, so they can investigate.
- Visit your nearest District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO). This local BMET office handles migration fraud complaints. You can also contact the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, which may be able to help with fee-recovery guidance.
- If you’re already abroad and something feels wrong, contact the nearest Bangladesh embassy or consulate for help.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also works with the Bangladesh government on ethical recruitment. IOM can be a helpful resource if government channels are slow to respond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check if a recruitment agency is BMET-licensed?
Search the agency’s RL (recruiting license) number on the Overseas Employment Platform’s public agent list at oep.gov.bd/agencies. Then check the same name on the BAIRA member list at baira.org.bd. Make sure the license status shows “Active,” not expired, cancelled, or suspended.
What is an RL number?
RL stands for recruiting license. It is the official license number BMET gives to every legally registered overseas recruitment agency in Bangladesh. A real agency will always share this number when you ask.
Is BAIRA membership the same as a BMET license?
No. A BMET license is the legal requirement to recruit workers at all. BAIRA membership is an industry group agencies can join on top of that. Checking both gives you two independent confirmations instead of one.
What should I do if an agency asks for money before showing me a contract?
Do not pay. A real agency shows you a written, government-format contract and explains the actual service fee before asking for any payment. Asking for cash upfront with no paperwork is one of the clearest signs of fraud.
Where do I report a fraudulent recruitment agency?
Report it to BMET headquarters in Dhaka, and to BAIRA if the agency claims membership there. Your nearest District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO) or the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board can also help with fraud complaints and fee recovery.
Sources
- Overseas Employment Platform (Government of Bangladesh) — Public Agent List
- BAIRA — Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies Member Directory
- BMET — Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training
- IOM Bangladesh — Ethical Recruitment and International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS)
- The Business Standard — Rising number of migrant workers falling prey to fraudulence
- The Daily Star — Protect migrant workers from fraudulent recruitment
- Winrock International — Toward Safer Labor Migration in the Bangladesh-Malaysia Corridor (JDR3 Policy Brief)
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
