21 Bangladeshis remanded in Malaysia
Malaysian authorities today placed 24 foreign job seekers including 21 Bangladeshis on remand after they were caught while trying to enter the Southeast Asian country by a tugboat from Indonesia.
Maritime Enforcement Agency officials Saturday night detained the 21 Bangladeshis, two Indonesians, and one Afghan from the country’s southern Tanjung Sepat area under Selenagor province, reports a Malaysian English daily.
The Bangladeshis had first flown to Singapore from Dhaka and then entered Pekanbaru in Indonesia before attempting to enter Malaysia by sea route, according to The Star.
“This is the first time Bangladeshi nationals, in a big group, have tried to illegally enter the country,” said The Star report quoting by MMEA Klang operations director Maritime Commander Romli Mustafa.
“Some of them told us they are here for vacation while the Afghan said he fled his country due to unrest in his hometown. The Indonesians are believed to be the skipper of the tugboat and his helper,” he added.
The Malaysian official said none of the foreigners had proper documents.
Contacted, Sayedul Islam, counsellor (labour wing) at Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said they did not have any information about the victims.
“It is really unbelievable that the Bangladeshis tried to enter Malaysia from Indonesia. We will look into the matter,” he told The Daily Star over phone.
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