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Published : 05 Jul 2025, 04:15 PM
Bangladesh has assured Malaysia of its full cooperation in investigating allegations of militancy against a group of Bangladeshi nationals recently arrested in the Southeast Asian country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Dhaka's firm stance against all forms of terrorism, violent extremism and militancy, and said it remains ready to cooperate fully with Malaysian authorities in the matter.
Malaysia's Inspector General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail had earlier said that the group of Bangladeshis arrested in Malaysia was suspected of sending funds to Islamic State (IS) cells in Syria and Bangladesh.
At a press conference on Friday, Ismail said 36 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in a series of operations conducted since April. Most of them were employed in factories, construction sites, or the service sector.
Malaysia has since deported three of the individuals, who were subsequently arrested and sent to jail upon arriving in Bangladesh on Friday.
Reiterating the information shared by the Malaysian police chief, the foreign ministry said: "Last week, Malaysian authorities announced that they had arrested 36 Bangladeshis in the recent security operations for their alleged involvement in a radical militant movement."
"The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur immediately engaged with the relevant Malaysian authorities and formally requested the identities of the individuals and information on the allegations brought against them."
According to the ministry, formal charges have been filed in Malaysian courts against five of those arrested, while the others are either under further investigation or in the process of being deported.
"The government of Bangladesh is closely monitoring the developments, and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in close communication with the relevant Malaysian authorities. The Bangladesh High Commission will extend necessary support to the expatriate Bangladeshis wherever needed."
Malaysian police chief Ismail said that five people have been formally charged with involvement in terrorism, while 15 are set to be deported. Sixteen others remain in police custody pending investigation.
