Illegal migrants in Malaysia, including Bangladeshis will be allowed to return for a fee of 700 RM (Tk 14, 362) under a new amnesty program launched by the Malaysian government.
Malaysian Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in a media statement on Thursday (Jul 18) that the illegal immigrants will be allowed to return to Bangladesh from Aug 1 till Dec 31.
The minister warned of severe legal actions against the immigrants who chose to stay after New Year’s Eve.
The Malaysian government will be implementing the “Program Back For Good” initiative in order to let the illegal immigrants return.
“They will also need to obtain proper travel documents, like their passports and special travel passes from their embassies, as well as arrange their own transportation back to their home countries within seven days,” Muhyiddin told Malaysian media agency The Star on Thursday.
He added that the programme will be conducted solely by the Immigration Department, without involvement from any middlemen or agents.
The announcement comes nearly after a week after the Malaysian Immigration Department met with representatives of the foreign missions there on Jul 12 and briefed them on the programme.