Canada charges five over Bangladeshi temporary visa fraud scheme

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has charged five Bangladeshi nationals over an alleged immigration fraud scheme linked to hundreds of Canadian visa applications. Four of the accused appeared at the Valleyfield courthouse in Quebec on 22 October, while the fifth remains in Bangladesh and faces an arrest warrant.

Key facts

• 243 temporary resident visa applications were submitted for 209 Bangladeshi nationals.
• Four accused appeared in court on 22 October; an arrest warrant was issued for the fifth.
• The probe began after a CBSA compliance operation in Mercier, Quebec, on 3 July 2024.
• Investigators carried out four search warrants in Quebec and Ontario on 3 June 2025.
• The CBSA says forged documents or false information can mean refusal and an entry ban of at least five years.

Who has been charged?

According to a CBSA news release issued on 22 October, four of the accused appeared in court that day: Rashel Mirza, Mohammed Aminul Islam, Md Mudassar Alam Bhuiyan and Kazi Nafeez Alam. The fifth accused, Md Rakibul Hassan, is reportedly in Bangladesh, and an arrest warrant has been issued against him.

What is the alleged scheme?

Investigators found that 243 temporary resident visa applications had been submitted for 209 Bangladeshi nationals seeking to visit Canadian citizens presented as their hosts. The CBSA said an elaborate scheme had allegedly been set up to help applicants obtain visas using fraudulent documents and false statements.

Given the scale and complexity of the case, the agency focused on 79 of the 243 applications that it considered most probative.

How did the investigation unfold?

The case began after the CBSA carried out a compliance operation at a private residence in Mercier, Quebec, on 3 July 2024, working with officers and representatives of the town's police and fire departments. The agency identified indications of possible violations of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and formally opened an investigation in August that year.

On 3 June 2025, investigators executed four search warrants at locations in Quebec and Ontario. Documents, computer equipment and other evidence gathered during the searches pointed to the involvement of the five accused, the agency said.

What are the charges?

The accused face three charges: conspiring to organise or facilitate the entry of people into Canada; knowingly inducing, aiding or abetting people to misrepresent or conceal material facts in immigration applications; and knowingly inducing, aiding or abetting people to violate Canada's immigration law.

The charges have yet to be validated by the court, the allegations have not been proven, and judicial proceedings are ongoing.

What does the CBSA advise visa applicants?

Immigration specialists warn that submitting forged documents or false information in a Canadian visa application can result in the application being refused and a ban on entering Canada for at least five years, as well as further legal complications, the press release said.

The CBSA advises applicants to verify the accuracy of all information and supporting documents before submitting an application. The agency also urges applicants to stay aware of the information submitted on their behalf by representatives or consultants and to avoid placing blind trust in anyone who guarantees a visa.

What this means for travellers

Applicants from Bangladesh and elsewhere should check every document and statement in a Canadian visa application themselves, including anything filed by an agent or consultant, and should be wary of anyone promising guaranteed approval. False or forged material can lead to refusal and an entry ban of at least five years.

The court proceedings are continuing, and the CBSA release gave no further dates for the case.