Malaysia detains Bangladeshi national featured in Al Jazeera documentary
On July 7, the Immigration Department of Malaysia circulated a notice seeking public information on Rayhan, to be investigated
Md Rayhan Kabir - the Bangladeshi national who was being hunted by the Malaysian immigration department for allegedly sullying the authorities' name in an interview has been detained by the agency's officers.
The 25-year-old Md Rayhan Kabir, who was featured in the Al Jazeera documentary Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown, was found hiding in a condominium in the city centre, reports the Malay Mail citing the Harian Metro.
The report quoted the department's director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud as confirming the matter.
On July 7, the Immigration Department of Malaysia circulated a notice seeking public information on Rayhan, to be investigated.
In its notice, the Malaysian immigration department provided the name of the 25-year-old man, his passport number and his last known address in Kuala Lumpur, urging the public to contact the department with any information they could provide to assist in the investigations.
Rayhan Kabir was among those featured by Al Jazeera in its recent 101 East documentary, and his personal details have since been circulated by Malaysians online who were angry with the critical report that carried allegations of the mistreatment of migrant workers in Malaysia.
Khairul Dzaimee Daud previously said the Al Jazeera documentary on immigration operations during the movement control order was inaccurate, pointing out that the Malaysian government had provided free treatment to 773 foreigners in immigration depots who tested positive for Covid-19 and had been praised by foreign embassies for doing so.
On July 3, Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera released the 25.50-minute-long documentary on undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia. The news agency is now facing police investigation over the film.
Rayhan Kabir's is from Narayanganj, Bangladesh. His father Shah Alam worked in a garment factory. He recently spoke to Brac Migration Programme.
"I got the news at night. Someone sent me a picture of his arrest. My son has been protesting against injustice since childhood. But he himself has never done any wrong. After graduating from Tolaram College in 2014, he left for Malaysia. He passed BA there," Alam said.
He added in a tearful voice: "His mother has fallen ill worrying. I have heard through various sources that my son has been arrested for protesting against injustice. I believe my son told the truth and was on the path of justice. I want the whole country to be by his side."