Bangladesh’s overseas labor market, a lifeline for millions of families and the national economy, is facing a serious threat in Eastern Europe. Serbia and North Macedonia, two emerging labor destinations, have sounded the alarm after detecting a flood of fake work permits submitted by Bangladeshi visa applicants. The scam has become so widespread that both countries have stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshi workers altogether for the past two months. If the situation persists, they warn, visas could be banned entirely.
This chilling prospect raises the specter of another major collapse in Bangladesh’s international labor market, similar to previous bans in Malaysia and the Gulf. With fake documentation spreading through organized traffickers and criminal syndicates, the reputation of Bangladeshi workers abroad is at risk once more.
90 Percent of Work Permits Fake: Diplomatic sources from both Serbia and North Macedonia confirmed that most work permit submissions from Bangladeshi applicants were forged. In North Macedonia alone, nearly 90 percent were found to be fake. A similar trend has emerged in Serbia, prompting deep concerns among immigration officials. Despite the halted work permit issuance over the past two months, embassy offices continue to receive applications using fraudulent documents. Authorities warn that a continued influx of forged paperwork will lead them to shut down visa facilities for Bangladeshis entirely. The message from these embassies is clear: end the fraud, or lose access to the labor market.
Criminal Gangs Exploit Dream of Europe: The crisis escalated recently when North Macedonian police arrested four members of a Bangladeshi trafficking ring. Of those arrested, two were from Brahmanbaria and one from Sylhet. The case even reached the agenda of the country’s National Security Council, where it was decided that after a formal trial, the traffickers would either be jailed or deported back to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Serbian authorities have uncovered a similar scheme. Fraudsters are not only forging work permits but creating fake Serbian visa stickers to attach inside passports. The scam deceives victims into believing their visas are ready, even though immigration checks catch most cases before boarding or upon arrival.
This dual blow is devastating in multiple ways: Victims lose their life savings to fraudulent agencies. Bangladeshi credibility weakens in the global labor market. Officials in receiving countries become hostile toward legitimate workers.
How the Scam Works: To send workers legally abroad, three items are required: Work permit, Visa, Smart card issued by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). Fraud groups first create fake work permits and use them to apply for visas. When the application is rejected, they manufacture bogus visa stickers to attach to passports. Once the fake visa is ready, BMET smart cards are obtained against it. Finally, the scammers purchase air tickets and send victims toward European destinations.
However, the scheme rarely succeeds. Immigration officers at airports around the world are increasingly alert to forged documents. Many Bangladeshis are detained, deported, or denied boarding altogether, often after spending several lakhs of taka in hopes of a better life.
Social Media: The New Hunting Ground: Fraud syndicates operate cleverly, spreading bait through social platforms. Desperate workers, particularly expatriates already in the Middle East, are targeted with promises of: A prosperous European life, High salaries, Quick visa approvals, “Guaranteed” job security. Victims, blinded by hope and pressured by family expectations, fall into the trap.
Mazedul Islam, who applied for a Serbian work visa last May, described his harrowing experience: “I applied online for a Serbian worker visa, and the application remained pending for months. Suddenly, the agency changed my password without notice. They now claim that within a month they will provide visa approval and a sticker visa.”
Immigration advisors note that this is a classic fraud tactic. Once a work permit application is rejected, scammers shift to selling fake approval letters and visa stickers to squeeze additional money from already trapped individuals.
Warning From North Macedonia’s Ambassador: Slobodan Uzanov, the non-resident Ambassador of North Macedonia to Bangladesh (based in New Delhi), confirmed the gravity of the situation:
“North Macedonia has not issued any work permits for Bangladeshis in the last two months. Still, some dishonest groups are continuously applying using fake permits. If this situation does not change, we will soon stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi nationals.” His warning underscores how close Bangladesh is to losing yet another vital labor corridor due to unchecked fraud.
Economic Stakes: A National Concern: Remittances from expatriate workers are one of Bangladesh’s strongest economic pillars. The loss of any overseas labor market creates: Unemployment within the country. A decrease in foreign currency reserves. Family instability among millions relying on remittances. Damage to Bangladesh’s credibility and future opportunities.
Serbia and North Macedonia, though relatively small markets, were fast becoming alternative destinations as traditional labor markets tightened immigration policies. If visas close, thousands of potential legal migrants will lose hope, and scammers will dominate the narrative even further.
Why the Problem Keeps Returning: Much like previous trafficking scandals in Libya, Brunei, and Malaysia, this crisis reveals deeper systemic failures: Lack of strict regulation of recruitment agencies, Weak enforcement against human traffickers, Insufficient worker awareness and training, Government delays in expanding legal migration channels, Profit-driven recruitment practices without accountability, Attempts to curb middlemen influence and establish transparent labor migration frameworks often stall or remain incomplete.
A Growing Trust Deficit: For receiving countries, every forged visa represents a threat to national security. When fraud reaches even 10 percent, alarm bells ring. When it reaches 90 percent, bans become inevitable. Bangladesh cannot afford to become a “risky source country” in Europe. Once trust is lost, restoring it takes years of diplomatic effort and verification measures.
