PUTRAJAYA – Wisma Putra will evacuate all Malaysians, including students in Bangladesh, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Mohamad added that arrangements have been made with several government agencies for this evacuation, including the National Security Council (NSC) and AirAsia management, to bring them home.
He said the plane will reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10am tomorrow (12pm Malaysian time) and that AirAsia management has been told to ensure that the plane is on time.
“There are about 192 Malaysians there, including 124 students and we have arranged for a wide-body Airbus A330 to be used for this evacuation, which could accommodate around 350 passengers.
“The large aircraft is to also accommodate Malaysians who are not registered with the embassy and want to return home tomorrow.
“We found out that there are 10 Malaysian pilots, working for other airlines, wanting to get their families out of there. So we’re making arrangements for them to be brought home.
“If you have family members or friends in Bangladesh who are not registered with the embassy, please tell them to get in touch with Wisma Putra by tonight.
“The diplomatic officials have been instructed to bring all Malaysians to the high commission building in Dhaka tonight. We are also making arrangements with the Bangladesh government to ensure Malaysians are given security to get to the building tonight and the airport.
“I hope this will put all assumptions to rest, especially those suggesting that the government and ministry are not doing anything,” he said in a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters, here, today.
Also at the press conference were the parents of Malaysian students, including Major General (rtd) Nubli Hashim and Malaysian student Ahmad Wafiq Aqil Kamarul, who had returned home on July 18 before the curfew was imposed.
The minister said one Malaysian student left will remain in Bangladesh as the student resides in Chittagong, which is around 100km from Dhaka.
It will take longer to move the student to the high commission building in Dhaka and Wisma Putra have asked Malaysia’s honorary consuls to monitor the student at present time, he added.
“Our embassy in Dhaka has been advising our students to remain within their hostel or to move to KPJ hospital hostel. I was informed that yesterday, the embassy has arranged for food stocks to be delivered to our students, who are residing in their campus hostel.
“We figured that it is easier to evacuate them now, compared to when the protest was going on, since the Bangladeshi government has imposed a curfew and there will be less traffic on the streets.
“I hope the parents can remain calm and pray for the evacuation process to go on smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government prioritises the safety of Malaysians and decided on the evacuation after monitoring the latest developments in Bangladesh.
“Whether they are government-sponsored or private students, we will help them. The safety of Malaysians is our priority.
“In the first few days, the situation seemed to be under control, but now, based on information from the embassy, it seems more appropriate to bring them back,” he said after opening the National Tax Conference 2024 earlier.
Students in Bangladesh have been demonstrating since July 1 against recent court-reinstated quotas for government jobs. The quota was abolished in 2018.
Protesters are demanding changes to the system, which reserves 56% of public jobs for certain groups.
Following this protest, Bangladesh has imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the military in Dhaka and other districts, following clashes between demonstrators and police during protests.
The government was also reported to have largely cut off internet, telephone and SMS services.
More than 160 people have died since violence broke out on Tuesday. – July 22, 2024