Bangladesh mission acts to bring home nationals detained in Malaysia

The Bangladesh High Commission has taken steps to bring home Bangladeshi nationals held in immigration camps in Malaysia after completing their prison sentences, quickly and safely.

As part of that effort, a delegation from the Bangladesh High Commission visited the Tanamera detention camp in Kelantan state on October 25.

During the visit, the delegation met 61 Bangladeshi nationals detained at the camp and helped them contact their families.

The delegation also collected information needed to make their return process easier. At the same time, the delegation met the camp commander.

In the meeting, the delegation stressed ensuring the overall welfare of the detained Bangladeshis and bringing them home quickly.

It is worth noting that thousands of Bangladeshis are in Malaysian jails after being detained for various offences — going to Malaysia on a valid calling visa and then working elsewhere after remaining jobless for months, going on a visit visa after being lured by brokers hoping for legal status and never returning, and working in the service sector on a construction worker's visa.

The embassy regularly visits various camps in the country to bring these detainees home quickly.

Meanwhile, undocumented migrants in Malaysia still have the chance to return home on their own by paying a maximum fine of 500 ringgit, without facing any punishment.

Yet the crackdowns have not stopped. Almost every day, thousands of migrants are detained in single and joint operations by the immigration department.

Work is under way to ease the return process for the detained Bangladeshis, based on the information collected by the delegation.