102 Bangladesh nationals detained in Malaysia

The Malaysian authorities on Monday detained some 309 undocumented foreign nationals, including 102 Bangladeshis, in an operation carried out at a construction site near Kuala Lumpur.

Aged between 20s and 50s, the detainees consisted of 280 men and 29 women of various nationalities — Indonesian, Bangladeshis, Myanmar national, Vietnamese and Indian, according to Malaysian online Bernama.com.

The raid was conducted after getting allegations of violations of the standard operating procedures of the movement control order applicable in the Covid pandemic, Malaysian immigration director general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said.

Some 715 people were inspected during the drive at the construction site, which was densely populated, dirty and without a proper drainage system, he said, adding that the workers were free to do anything inside the site and showed a total disregard for the standard operating procedures.

The detainees also include about 10 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar with UNHCR cardholders, he said, adding that two Rohingya people were holding fake UNHCR cards.

Some of the detainees might fake deportation after the investigation, the Malaysian official added.

Bangladesh High Commission counsellor Mohammad Zahirul Islam in Kuala Lumpur told New Age on Monday that they were aware of the drive by the Malaysian authorities.

‘We are in touch with the Malaysian authorities on the whereabouts of the detainees,’ he said expressing the hope that most of the Bangladeshi detainees would be proven legal immigrants after their respective employers produce their travel documents.

The Malaysian government was implementing a labour recalibration plan by allowing sections of workers to overstay their respective employment visas for a certain period at the request of employers in various sectors, Bangladesh High Commission official added.

News Courtesy- https://www.newagebd.net/article/141456/102-bangladesh-nationals-detained-in-malaysia