'The Finance Today' Apologizes to British Human Rights Activist Andy Hall

The report titled "Malaysia Labour Market: Controversy erupts over Andy Hall’s Bangladesh visit" published in the review of statements and information obtained from sources contains incorrect information and the statement of the relevant source is not in line with reality, the published report has been withdrawn.

The Finance Today has officially withdrawn a controversial news report and issued an unconditional apology to renowned British migrant rights specialist Andy Hall. The retraction follows a formal protest from Mr. Hall, who characterized the initial publication as "incorrect, misleading, and one-sided."

The disputed article, titled "Malaysia Labour Market: Controversy erupts over Andy Hall’s Bangladesh visit," made several unsubstantiated claims regarding Mr. Hall's meetings and professional conduct during his recent diplomatic visit to Dhaka.

According to him, several of the allegations made in the report do not match the actual events. They have called on the media to reconsider the matter based on the relevant information and documents.

Meanwhile, the relevant media outlet 'The Finance Today' said that the news was prepared based on information and data provided by various quarters and relevant sources at the time of publishing the report.

However, since their statement was proven wrong, The Finance Today authorities have withdrawn the said report from its server, news portal and Facebook page after reviewing the matter following the principles of journalism. It is to be noted that the protest letter sent in the context of publishing the news has been published as the statement of the concerned party.

Retraction and Editorial Apology

Expressing sincere regret, he wrote, "First of all, The Finance Today' Editor & Publisher Md. Motiur Rahman paid his deepest respects to the British King and Prime Minister and wished them good health.

In this official statement, Md. Motiur Rahman, the Editor & Publisher of The Finance Today, admitted that the report was based on fabricated intelligence and published without adequate verification. Expressing deep regret for the oversight, the publication confirmed that the article has been entirely scrubbed from its server, news portal, and social media platforms.

"We acknowledge that the information published regarding false allegations and wrong intelligence about your misconduct with the Expatriates Welfare & Overseas Employment Ministry was fabricated," Rahman stated in an official apology directed to Andy Hall. "We deeply regret any harm, reputational damage, or distress this oversight has caused you. We take full responsibility for this error."

The outlet further clarified that strict disciplinary action has been taken against the editorial staff responsible for bypassing internal verification protocols.

Andy Hall’s Official Statement: Setting the Record Straight

To counter the defamatory narratives, Andy Hall released a detailed responsive statement clarifying the true nature of his official visit to Bangladesh:

High-Level Government Engagement: Contrary to rumors of "unauthorized" lobbying, Mr. Hall's meeting at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment was facilitated directly by HE Mahdi Amin, the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant (assigned to the Prime Minister's Office).

He said, "It was the Bangladeshi Prime Minister‘s office chief advisor HE Madhi Amin who set up the meeting with the Expatriates Minister on Sunday 5th July 930am to 1130am when I was at the Ministry in Dhaka. Mahdi Amin himself was supposed to attend (indeed his PS said he was almost arrived and turned back) but could not due to an urgent recall to attend a meeting with Prime Minister."

All those who attended the meeting between the Minister, Chief Secretary and myself on Sunday and are familiar with the contents of the discussions would understand the implications and allegations made in this article are entirely false and defamatory, he added.

No Personal or Financial Ambitions: Hall categorically rejected claims of seeking personal gain. "I do not seek any lobbying position or employment with the Bangladeshi government on migration issues, nor have I ever done so," he stated.

Engagement with Manpower Agency Owners: Addressing his meeting with recruitment industry actors at the Bengal Blueberry Hotel, Hall explained that these interactions are standard practice, as these stakeholders regularly participate in International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) consultations.

Combating Human Trafficking and Syndicates: The primary objective of these discussions was to foster collaboration to oppose the decades-old criminal syndicates that traffic Bangladeshi workers for forced labor in Malaysia and other destination countries.

Hall said, "The meeting between myself, my colleagues and these Manpower Agency owners was intended primarily to discuss ways to oppose the syndication of Manpower export from Bangladesh, as well as to ensure mutual support and cooperation regards multiple legal cases filed in Bangladesh and Malaysia against and by the alleged criminal syndicate masterminds trafficking Bangladeshi workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia."

Whilst I fully oppose a decades old criminal syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi workers For Forced Labour in Malaysia and other destination countries, my primary intention in working in this area, for which I have a proven track record, is to promote Responsible Recruitment markets and dignified, safe and ethics migration channels, he added.

Andy Said, "Migration should ensure development through remittance and skills transfer, low cost migration ensures workers don’t depart indebted. Unethical recruitment just promotes greed and exploitation of these syndicates."

A Vision for Responsible Recruitment

An internationally decorated advocate, Andy Hall emphasized that his ongoing work in South and Southeast Asia is strictly dedicated to establishing Responsible Recruitment markets and ensuring dignified, safe, and ethical migration channels.

"Migration should ensure development through remittance and skills transfer. Low-cost migration ensures workers don’t depart indebted. Unethical recruitment just promotes the greed and exploitation of these syndicates," Hall concluded.

By publishing Mr. Hall's protest in full and issuing a public retraction, The Finance Today stated its commitment to upholding the ethical principles of journalism moving forward.