Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547166
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS Bangladesh Malta Business Association secretary accused of human trafficking THE Bangladesh Malta Busi- ness Association has distanced itself from its secretary, Naz- mul Istiak following his ar- raignment on human traffick- ing charges. ISTIAK, who also owns the Pink Garlic restaurant in St Paul's Bay, was arraigned on 20 September and accused of human trafficking, money laundering, fraud, coercion, and breaching employment laws. Istiak, as secretary of the BMBA, had been very active in Malta's Bangladeshi commu- nity and represented the asso- ciation when it started calling for improved working condi- tions and better pay for food couriers. According to the BMBA's website at the time of writ- ing, the association's president is journalist Gerald Fenech. However, when contacted by MaltaToday Fenech said that he resigned from his post as president after news on Isti- ak's alleged crimes came to light. "I was shocked," Fenech said, adding that he knew Istiak as a friend, but had no idea of the alleged illegalities. "My role in the association was pure- ly nominal and voluntary," Fenech clarified. The BMBA's treasurer Af- sana Rahim Efthi insisted the charges have nothing to do with the association. She de- clined to comment when asked if the association is still active. Previous involvement in 'fraud agency' According to company data, Istiak was the 90% majority shareholder of a now-defunct "premier HR consultancy and outsourcing" company called E&N Ivanova Ltd. Its only available review on- line is a warning describing the company as a "fraud agency", adding the company doesn't pay workers according to their contracts and deducts salaries. Last year, the Rent Regula- tion Board ordered E&N Iva- n o - va to pay an outstand- ing €52,000 in unpaid rent to the landlords of three apart- ments being leased by the company. Promises of the 'American dream' in Malta According to testimony heard in court following his arraignment, Istiak is believed to have recruited third coun- try nationals (TCNs) to travel to Malta by promising them employment opportunities and "the American dream" in Malta. One victim told the court that he came across Istiak while searching for employment op- portunities abroad. The victim testified how he came across a Facebook group advertising a vacancy for a waiter and bar assistant in Malta. The position promised a m o n t h - ly salary of €900 and a 40-hour work week. But over time, the employee saw his salary gradually shrink to just €400 per month while his working weeks were made up of 12-hour shifts, six days a week. As more time went on, the victim told the court, he ended up working without a salary for four months, even- tually relying on depositing discarded bottles into BCRS machines. During his testimo- ny, the witness was also ques- tioned about whether Istiak had given him instructions on what to say if approached by the police. He claimed that Istiak had instructed him to tell any- one questioning his presence at the restaurant that he was merely helping out rather than actually working there. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Nazmul Istiak (right), secretary of the Bangladesh Malta Business Association, was charged in court of human trafficking, money laundering, fraud, coercion, and breaching employment laws Gerald Fenech, who resigned from president of the Bangladesh Malta Business Association after Istiak was charged, said he was 'shocked' by the case The Bangladesh Malta Business Association has distanced itself from secretary Nazmul Istiak following his arraignment on human trafficking and other charges, as court testimony details allegations of migrant workers being lured to Malta with promises of employment before facing exploitative working conditions