Immigration police at a Malaysia airport on early Thursday barred Bangladesh-based human rights organisation Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan from entering the country and sent him back to Bangladesh.
On Thursday evening, Odhikar Director Nasiruddin Elan said that Adilur is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10pm.
“We barred him over immigration issues. We are checking his documents. Adilur will not be allowed to enter Malaysia. He will be deported,” Malaysian immigration officer Shely had said as quoted by the Bangla Tribune.
Earlier in the morning, an official of Odhikar, asking to remain anonymous, told the Dhaka Tribune that Adilur had travelled to Malaysia to join a conference on the death penalty, organised by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), scheduled to be held from July 21-22.
“He [Adilur] was not detained. He was barred from entering the country,” said the official.
Odhikar Director Nasiruddin told Bangla Tribune: “Malaysia has been accused of violating human rights and Adilur might have been barred from entering the country for this reason.”
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Md Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh high commissioner to Malaysia, told the Dhaka Tribune that he was not aware of the incident.
“Immigration police can bar anyone from entering the country. If he is obstructed by the immigration police without a valid reason, the high commission will take steps to resolve the matter as soon as possible,” he said.
Condemning the incident, Malaysian rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) demanded the immediate release of Adilur and called for an end to the harassment of human rights activists in Malaysia.Bangla Tribune has contributed to this story
Friday, March 28, 2025
