Rayhan Kabir landed in Dhaka on a Malaysia Airlines flight at 1:00am on Saturday. His Father Shah Alam broke down in tears after finding his beloved son at the airport. The moment when father and son embraced each other touched everyone who was there. The joy some tears contain cannot be understood without experiencing it.
Rayhan said, ‘I can’t explain this joy. How many times have I come and gone in the last six years! This time it feels different. My Bangladesh, my motherland, my mother, my parents… I can’t explain this feeling to anyone. Gratitude to all of you. Gratitude to all who were by my side at home and abroad.’
On July 3, Al Jazeera published an investigative documentary titled ‘Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown.’ It raised the issue of the government’s repressive treatment of migrant workers in Malaysia during the lockdown. In the documentary, along with the citizens of many other countries, Rayhan also gave an interview, which angered the Malaysian authorities.
A warrant was issued against Rayhan. He was arrested by Malaysian police on the evening of July 24. After 14 days of interrogation, the police produced him in court on August 8. The court granted a 13-day remand if the police wanted a 14-day remand. After the remand ended on Wednesday, police said there were no charges against him. Immigration police then decided to send him back to Bangladesh.
Rayhan was informed on Friday morning that he would be sent back to the country at night. Earlier, his luggage and other necessary items were brought there and his ticket was confirmed.
Rayhan sent a WhatsApp message where he said, ‘I did not commit any crime. I did not lie. I have only talked about discrimination against the migrants. I want the dignity of migrants and my country ensured. I believe all migrants and Bangladesh will stand with me.’
Even during interrogation, Rayhan told the Immigration Police that he spoke about what he had seen and that was his own observation. But he did not want to hurt Malaysians.
Different international and Bangladeshi organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned the arrest and demanded Rayhan’s immediate release.❐
