Dhaka to back Malaysia in IS crackdown case
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Government of Bangladesh has announced its readiness to cooperate fully with Malaysian authorities following the arrest of 36 Bangladeshi nationals in a recent counter-terrorism operation in Malaysia.
The crackdown, led by Malaysian security forces last week, reportedly targeted individuals suspected of having links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
According to Malaysian Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail, a radical militant group composed entirely of Bangladeshi nationals were allegedly raising funds and recruiting members for the IS.
The arrests were made in a sweeping operation aimed at dismantling extremist cells within the country, which has long been on alert for IS-affiliated threats.
In response, the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur promptly reached out to Malaysian authorities, formally requesting detailed information about the arrested individuals and the nature of the charges brought against them.
Of the 36 Bangladeshis detained, five have been formally charged in Malaysian courts, while the remaining individuals are either under further investigation or are being processed for deportation.
The Bangladesh government stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with Malaysian counterparts.
The High Commission has also assured that it will provide necessary consular support to the detained Bangladeshis and their families where required.
“Bangladesh reiterates its unwavering position against terrorism, violent extremism, and militancy in all forms,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
“We stand ready to cooperate fully with Malaysia in ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.”
The development has stirred concern both in Bangladesh and within its large expatriate community in Malaysia.
Authorities in Dhaka emphasised that they are committed to preventing the misuse of Bangladeshi identity or passports by any group or individual intending to carry out subversive activities abroad.
Malaysia has been on high alert in recent years amid rising threats from transnational terrorist organizations.
The Southeast Asian nation has detained hundreds of individuals suspected of IS involvement, many of them foreign nationals.
This latest operation marks one of the largest involving Bangladeshis, raising alarms about potential radicalization within migrant communities.
In previous years, Malaysian intelligence had flagged instances where foreigners, including Bangladeshis, were recruited by IS through online propaganda or religious study groups.
The recent arrests underline the need for tighter cooperation between governments in intelligence sharing and migrant monitoring.
Bangladesh has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and has taken significant domestic measures to counter radicalization and extremist networks.
Bangladesh once again reiterates its firm stand against all forms of terrorism, violent extremism and militancy, and it remains ready to extend full cooperation to the Malaysian authorities in this regard, the Foreign Ministry said.
The bilateral relation between the two counties has always been warm and is entwined with multifaceted cooperation including trade and manpower recruitment.
Malaysia is one of the major destinations for Bangladeshi workers and approximately 898,970 Bangladeshi citizens are currently working in Malaysia.
This makes Bangladesh the largest source of foreign workers in Malaysia, surpassing Indonesia and Nepal, according to a recent report.
This number includes those who traveled through agencies selected by the Malaysian government since late 2022. It is worth noting that some reports suggest the actual number could be higher, including undocumented migrants.
A few days ago Law Adviser Md Asif Nazrul disclosed the media that Bangladesh would take manpower from Bangladesh numbering maximum 40,000 next year.
But when reports like the involvement of Bangladeshi people in criminal activities, it put the government under pressure and hit the image of the country worldwide.
To show the goodwill and cementing bilateral relations, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Dhaka and met Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Prof Muhammad Yunus at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Oct 4 last year.
Even on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum: 30th Future of Asia in Tokyo on May 29, both Dr Yunus and former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad had a warm discussion on multifaceted fields.
Dr Yunus sought Malaysia’s cooperation to support Bangladesh to become a member of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Mahathir assured that he would always remain a friend of Bangladesh and pledged his support in Bangladesh’s willingness to secure ASEAN membership.
Experts opine that Bangladeshi people should follow the rules and regulations of other countries because their activities would portray the image of Bangladesh.