Bangladesh has affirmed its commitment to cooperate fully with Malaysia in the ongoing terror investigation involving 36 Bangladeshi nationals detained in Malaysia. The Bangladesh mission in Kuala Lumpur is in close communication with the relevant Malaysian authorities regarding the issue, the foreign ministry stated today.
“Bangladesh High Commission will extend necessary support to the expatriate Bangladeshis wherever needed,” the ministry said in a statement. It further added, “The government of Bangladesh is closely monitoring the developments, and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in close communication with the Malaysian authorities.”
On June 27, Malaysia’s Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that 36 Bangladeshi nationals had been detained in Malaysia due to alleged direct links with an extremist militant group. Malaysian authorities indicated that the individuals were involved in a “radical militant movement” based on Islamic State (IS) extremist beliefs and violent ideology, and had established recruitment cells and raised funds for terrorist activities.
Following the announcement, the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur immediately engaged with the relevant Malaysian authorities. It formally requested the identities of the detained individuals and detailed information regarding the allegations brought against them.
According to the Bangladesh foreign ministry’s statement, “Of the arrested/detained individuals, formal charges have been filed against 5 in Malaysian courts. The rest are in the process of either further investigation or deportation.” It has been reported that three individuals deported from Malaysia in connection with this case have already been arrested and sent to jail upon their arrival in Bangladesh.
The statement emphatically reiterated Bangladesh’s firm stance against all forms of terrorism, violent extremism, and militancy. It affirmed the country’s readiness to extend full cooperation with the Malaysian authorities in this regard.
On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain had stated that Dhaka had sought detailed information from Malaysian authorities concerning the arrests. Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh would verify the allegations against the individuals to determine their involvement in militancy, adding, “If they are found to be involved, we will ensure their punishment.”
