BACK FROM MALAYSIA: On last December 5, one Sohel Ahmed (pseudonym), an employee of a private organization had gone to Malaysia along with his family members to enjoy leave. He reached the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at midnight flying in a private airliner. He embarked from plane in a joyful mood. But suddenly he found that two immigration officials are snatching away the passports of the all passengers. 

Sohel along with his wife and four year old son tried to avoid the rush. But uniformed officials resisted him. When he wanted to know that why their passports are being snatched before reaching immigration counter he was rebuked and directed to stand in the queue.

Sohel said, “I was feeling very embarrassed as if we were offenders. They directed us to move in a queue and not to break the queue. We were not taken to immigration desk. We were directed to sit on the floor by the immigration police and were taking too much time for immigration clearance. They behaved with us as if we are thieves. 

They were not treating with us as a human being. They were checking return tickets, hotel booking and dollars. This unusual delay caused excessive hungry to my little son.”

This is the story of a Sohel Ahmed who was cleared by immigration. Another private service holder Ruhul Amin (pseudonym) also went there to enjoy leave. But he was not given clearance by immigration desk. He along with 7-8 other passengers of the same flight were taken to a room and told to wait.

Ruhul said that most of the waiting persons in the room were Bangladeshis. Some were sitting on the floor and some were sitting on chairs. The tiredness due to whole night journey and understood that they were not being allowed to enter Malaysia. He did not get clearance though he had return ticket, hotel booking and 400 dollars. Immigration officer Krishna was attracted by the dollar.

Ruhul also said, “We were told to pay 100 dollars each to fix our return flight. One of us told them that our return flight was already fixed. This enraged a police who just kicked him. Being afraid every body paid 100 dollars while mobile phones of every one were taken away.

They later demanded more 200 dollars from everyone for our food arrangement. Those who could not pay were being kicked time and again. After that they forcibly took away all the money from our pocket.”

Ruhul while narrating his experience said that one passenger was beaten up so mercilessly that he was crying. The man had told the police that I do not want to enter rather send me back because I have not come here to stay. In my country I do a dignified job. But the cruel police was not kind enough rather was beating him up ruthlessly.

During last two weeks it was learnt from the passengers that 98 percent passengers were sent to immigration office irrespective of woman, adult, old and even child or disabled.

Inhumanity

Wheelchair passengers are even sent back to immigration office from desk. During the process, the people concerned show minimum humanity to the passengers, let alone respect. 

Dollars and Mobile sets snatched

Ruhul also said that passengers are asked for showing dollars. They are taken to washroom and beaten up mercilessly if they deny showing their currencies - dollars or Ringgit. Finally their valuables including money are snatched away. 

Besides, mobile sets of passengers are taken away at that time. Out of those, expensive sets are not given back finally. 

According to passenger Ruhul, “We get tourist visas after giving all necessary information. It is up to them, if they sent passengers back from immigration. But beating up people and snatching away of their valuables are nothing but savagery.”

Types of tourist visa

Besides Sticker Visa, Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka provides eVisa (electronic visa). None can apply for Sticker visa without agents and it requires at least 10 days and BDT 6,000 to BDT 6,500 for visa processing. It is easy to get eVisa soon paying BDT 4,200 only, but the system has not become popular yet. Many of officials in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur are still not aware of the system.  The duration of tourist or this sort of social visit visa is three months. Single entry instead of multiple-entry is now being issued. None can stay more than one month in Malaysia without taking prior permission.

Requirements to get visa

To get either Sticker or e-Visa, persons have to provide supporting documents including trade license, leave sanction letter from employer, bank statement for last 6 months having at least USD 1000, bank solvency certificate, national ID card or Birth certificate, 2 copies photographs of given size, hotel booking and return tickets. 

Why the repression!

When asked, immigration police informed the sufferers that people are being trafficked to Malaysia from Bangladesh through tourist visa. Why the authorities don’t close the tourist visa system if they think so. Persons and their documents should be checked before issuing them visa. There is no reason for a Bangladeshi with valid travel documents and visa to be harassed at Kuala Lumpur immigration. 

Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and Bangladesh Foreign Ministry were, however, informed to get rid of the situation Bangladeshis now face at Kuala Lumpur Immigration.

BDST: 1505 HRS, DEC 11, 2017
SMS/