Malaysia wil try some Bangladeshi detainees while deporting others, says Advisor Touhid

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has said some of the 36 Bangladeshis detained on charges of militant involvement will be tried in a Malaysian court, while the rest will be sent back to home.

Speaking at the foreign ministry on Thursday, he said: “They were detained on suspicion of terrorism. Hopefully, we will know the details in two to four days.

“I believe specific charges have been filed against some of them, and those cases will be tried in court. The situation remains somewhat fluid.”

On the repatriation process, he said: “Several of the detainees will be returned to Bangladesh. The home ministry will review their backgrounds to determine the extent of their involvement and any affiliations with particular organisations.”

When asked if the incident might affect visa issuance for other Bangladeshis, Touhid said: “I cannot confirm if this will negatively impact the visa process.

“If we take the right steps, hopefully, the impact can be reduced.”

“We must verify whether those involved committed specific offences. If so, they must face consequences, and we must work to prevent such incidents from recurring,” he added.

Earlier, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said some of the Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended in a three-phase operation across Selangor and Johor, beginning on Apr 24.

On Jun 27, the Singapore-based Straits Times reported that five of them had been charged with terrorism-related offences in the Shah Alam and Johor Baru courts.

The Malaysian authorities have ordered 15 of the detainees to be deported, while investigations are still ongoing for the remaining 16, statement read.