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Cheated by a Recruiting Agency or Dalal? How to Complain to BMET and Try to Get Your Money Back

Tips · 2026-10-13 · 7 min read

If a recruiting agency or a dalal has taken your money and the job never materialised, or the contract was nothing like what was promised, there are two official routes to complain in Bangladesh, and one of them is free. Here is exactly how the BMET complaint process works, what the law gives you beyond it, and the phone number to call today if you are not sure where to start.

Route 1: complain directly to BMET, at no cost

BMET's own citizen charter sets out a free complaint process for outgoing, returned or cheated workers. You submit a signed application with your evidence against the recruiting agency to the Director General of BMET. BMET then forms an inquiry committee, holds a hearing, and settles the matter within 30 working days, with the final decision taken by the Ministry. No fee is charged for lodging this complaint.

Route 2: a formal complaint under Section 41 of the law

Section 41 of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013 gives a wider option. Anyone who has been harmed can complain to the Government against any person, including a recruiting agent, for fraud, taking money illegally, or breaking the employment contract. The investigation must finish within 30 working days, and once a complaint is proven, it can be settled by order or arbitration within 3 months after the investigation ends. This route is not limited to licensed agencies; it covers any person who caused the harm.

If it was outright fraud, the law has teeth

Section 31 of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013 makes it a serious criminal offence to send someone abroad for work in breach of the Act, to take or try to take money by falsely promising overseas work, to hold back a migrant's passport, visa or migration papers without lawful reason, or to lure someone with false promises of higher pay. The punishment is imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of at least 1 lakh Taka. Knowing this exists gives real weight behind a complaint that involves deliberate deception, not just a dispute over service quality.

Rights you already have under the law

Before you even file a complaint, the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013 already gives you rights worth knowing. You have the right to be told, before leaving, about the migration process, the employment contract, working conditions abroad and your legal rights. You have the right to reasonable legal aid. And you have the right to file a civil suit for compensation if you are harmed by a breach of the Act or your employment contract. A complaint to BMET or the Government does not replace this civil right; it sits alongside it.

Where to call right now

The Probashbandhu call centre is open 24/7 on 16135 toll-free inside Bangladesh, or +88 09610 102 030 from abroad. BMET also runs an online complaint service at employee.oep.gov.bd, and the government's Grievance Redress System at grs.gov.bd takes complaints about its offices. If the issue involves a scam linked to an Australian visa specifically, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka asks people to report scam agents to the local police and to the Probashbondhu hotline too, and reminds applicants that real Home Affairs emails only ever end in @homeaffairs.gov.au.

Filing a complaint, step by step

1. Gather your evidence first: the recruiting agency's name and RL licence number if you have it, receipts, the contract, and any messages or promises made to you.
2. Call the Probashbandhu call centre on 16135 (or +88 09610 102 030 from abroad) if you are unsure which route fits your situation.
3. For a complaint specifically against a licensed recruiting agency, submit a signed application with your evidence to the Director General of BMET.
4. For a broader case involving fraud, illegal money or a broken contract, raise a Section 41 complaint with the Government, which must investigate within 30 working days.
5. If the facts point to deliberate fraud, such as a false job promise or a withheld passport, know that Section 31 carries criminal penalties, which strengthens your position.
6. Keep a copy of everything you submit and the reference number for any online complaint, so you can follow up.

If you are gathering your paperwork now, see our guide to the BMET smart card checklist and our breakdown of the BMET clearance fee and which receipts to keep, both useful records if you ever need to show what you actually paid. You can also browse Administration roles or a position such as this Account Manager role in Sydney for a sense of what a genuine, detailed job listing looks like.

Common mistakes

The first mistake is not keeping receipts. BMET and the Act's complaint processes both work on evidence; a payment with no record behind it is much harder to pursue.

The second is relying on a dalal in the first place rather than checking an agency's licence before paying anything. BMET warns plainly that relying on a dalal or middleman can lead to losing money and to human trafficking.

The third is waiting too long to act. Both the BMET citizen-charter route and the Section 41 route run on fixed working-day timelines, and the sooner your evidence is in, the sooner that clock starts working in your favour.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to complain to BMET about a recruiting agency?

No. BMET's citizen charter says outgoing, returned or cheated workers can complain against a recruiting agency at no cost with a signed application and evidence.

How long does a BMET complaint take?

BMET settles it within 30 working days after an inquiry committee and hearing, with the final decision taken by the Ministry.

What is Section 41, and how is it different from a BMET complaint?

Section 41 of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013 lets anyone harmed complain to the Government against any person, not just a licensed agency, for fraud, illegal money or a broken contract; the investigation finishes within 30 working days, and a proven complaint is settled within 3 months after that.

Can someone go to prison for cheating me with a fake job promise?

Yes. Section 31 of the Act makes false job promises, taking money by deception, and wrongfully withholding travel or migration documents punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of at least 1 lakh Taka.

What rights do I already have under the law, even before complaining?

You have the right to be told about the migration process, contract and working conditions before leaving, the right to reasonable legal aid, and the right to file a civil suit for compensation if you are harmed.

What number do I call if I am not sure what to do?

The Probashbandhu call centre is open 24/7 on 16135 toll-free inside Bangladesh, or +88 09610 102 030 from abroad.

Key takeaways

• A free complaint against a recruiting agency can go directly to the Director General of BMET, settled within 30 working days.
• Section 41 of the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013 covers a wider complaint against any person for fraud, illegal money or a broken contract.
• Deliberate fraud, such as a false job promise or a withheld passport, falls under Section 31, with imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of at least 1 lakh Taka.
• You already have rights under the Act: to be informed before leaving, to legal aid, and to a civil suit for compensation.
• Call Probashbandhu on 16135 (or +88 09610 102 030 from abroad) any time you are unsure which route to take.

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