Successful evacuation of 123 Malaysians from Bangladesh

SEPANG: The mission to repatriate 123 Malaysians from Bangladesh via a special flight was successfully completed, with no reports of injuries among the students.

According to Sinar Harian, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that Wisma Putra and the High Commission of Malaysia received excellent cooperation from the Bangladesh government and local authorities.

“The government wishes to express its gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and all relevant agencies for their cooperation and assistance.

“This operation proceeded smoothly thanks to the government-to-government (G2G) collaboration among agencies and all parties involved. The evidence is that the Malaysians arrived safely,” he said in a press conference at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2).

A total of 123 Malaysians, including 80 students, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on a special AirAsia flight at 11:05 a.m. Bangladesh time and arrived here at 4:56 p.m.

Further commenting, Saifuddin Nasution clarified that no Malaysian students were involved in the unrest as it was a domestic issue.

“I asked if any students were involved in the unrest in Bangladesh, and the answer was no. There were no reported injuries either.

“Our students were clear about their role; the issue was domestic, and their priority was the safety of their lives,” he said.

He also praised the efficiency of all parties involved in the mission despite challenges such as internet and telecommunication restrictions.

“The restrictions indeed hampered and affected the High Commission’s and ministry’s efforts to assist those impacted.

“Despite these constraints, the High Commission was able to use existing technology, such as SMS (short message service),” he added.

He acknowledged that some Malaysians remain in Bangladesh for various reasons, including those bound by employment contracts.

“Some Malaysians chose to stay in Bangladesh to avoid disrupting their studies, while others are tied to their job contracts.

“There are also those who wish to remain with their families. For all these scenarios, the High Commission of Malaysia will continue to fulfill its responsibilities and monitor their situation,” he explained.