DHAKA: The Malaysian law enforcers have been carrying on combing operations to pick up illegal emigrants in their country. They are searching the illegal expatriates almost everywhere including houses, offices and shops.
To avoid arrest the illegal Bangladeshi emigrants are taking shelters in the dense forests without fearing death. The detention centers and police stations of Malaysia are jam-packed now due to the detainees.
During the days-long campaign, a large number of illegal migrants including Bangladeshis have been detained. The Bangladesh embassy in Malaysia on Thursday said that 275 Bangladeshis were detained so far.
Our Correspondent in Malaysia Amjad Chowdhury informed us that many roads have been blocked so that the illegal workers cannot flee away. The illegal laborers have been arrested under this campaign mainly in Kuala Lumpur and its neighboring houses, offices, factories and shops.
He further said that thousands of illegal emigrants including the Bangladeshis have now taken shelters in the jungles. They are now passing their days sleepless and remaining unfed.
Police are carrying on vigorous searching operations in Clanmeru, Apmong point, Koparia Mydin including Kuala Lumpur. Thousands of illegal emigrants were seen when going around the detention centers at Kudubalai, Cherashbalai, Chungabhulu, Dangwanji, Hangtua, Dukitaman and Stadianbalai.
The fled-away laborers have appealed to their respective countries to take necessary steps to stop this arrest. They are expecting helps from their countries as they are now living in an inhuman condition.
Amjad Chowdhury also said that the country’s ten thousand members of immigration department, police and people’s volunteer core (Rela) started this countrywide campaign from Monday night.
Earlier the Malaysian government gave two years in two phases to the illegal expatriates to become legal. The second phase, which began on October 21 in 2013 and it ended on last Monday.
Apart from Bangladeshis the detained workers include several countries including Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, China, Nigeria and Thailand.
The Malaysian government has said that the illegal emigrants will be sent back to their respective countries either through their employers or the embassies.
The Bangladesh government has already said that it will not bear any expenditure to take back those illegal detained emigrants.
Bangladesh Expatriate Welfare Minister has informed media that if they want to return on their own expenditure then the government would help them. Otherwise they will have to suffer imprisonment in Malaysia for violating laws of that country.
The Minister expressed his unhappiness to the Bangladeshi workers for not becoming legal after getting opportunities. He also alleged that they have destroyed the image of the country abroad.
Labor Counselor in Bangladesh embassy in Kuala Lumpur Mantu Kumar Biswas told banglanews that till Thursday morning 275 have been detained according to reports.
About the issue he commented that the laborers are willingly still illegal that is not true. Many complexities have forced them to remain illegal though they had desire to be legal.
There are a good number of owners who have no registrations. The owners who have no registration how they will give their employed laborers legal support.
He added that there is no instruction from the government to send the detained laborers back to the country. They will have to return to the country by their own money.
BDST: 1855 HRS, JAN 23, 2014
