Three weeks after India’s security establishment sounded a quiet alarm following the arrest of 20 Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia last month over alleged links to the Islamic State (ISIS), a seven-member Malaysian police team arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night for high-level discussions with their Bangladeshi counterparts.
The seven-member delegation, led by Azman Bin Abdullah Razak, Principal Assistant Director of E8 (Special Branch), Royal Malaysia Police, landed in Dhaka on Tuesday night and will remain in the country until August 1. Their arrival comes three weeks after India’s security agencies raised alarms following the arrest of 20 Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia over alleged ties to the Islamic State (ISIS).
Between April and June 2025, at least 35 Bangladeshi nationals reportedly drew the attention of Malaysian authorities for suspected ISIS affiliations. This led to Malaysian immigration barring 135 individuals from entering the country, according to an official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Closed-door meetings and strategic coordination
During their stay, the Malaysian team will engage in a series of closed-door meetings with key units of the Bangladesh government, including the Home Ministry, Special Branch, Anti-Terrorism Unit, and Cybercrime Division. Sources within Bangladesh’s intelligence community said the meetings aim to foster “close working relationships” between mid-level investigators of both nations.
On August 1, the Malaysian delegation will attend a high-level workshop focused on “sharing existing evidence and recent developments related to people smuggling to Australia through Malaysia and Indonesia.” The event will also explore regional terror links, with a special focus on the use of Southeast Asia as a transit route for both terror operatives and human traffickers.
Representatives from Dhaka-based NGO Justice and Care will participate in the workshop, alongside Bangladesh’s Cyber Intelligence Unit and senior Dhaka Police officials. The goal is to align cross-border strategies and streamline intelligence-sharing practices.
Bangladesh’s immigration efforts under review
As part of the ongoing discussions, Malaysian officials will be briefed on Bangladesh’s immigration protocols—especially those at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. These presentations aim to highlight the steps being taken to curb illegal travel, identity fraud, and infiltration networks linked to extremist activities.
The visit marks a significant step in regional counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation. With both countries facing growing challenges from transnational terror groups and human trafficking syndicates, the Dhaka meetings are expected to pave the way for stronger bilateral coordination and more robust immigration oversight mechanisms.
The delegation’s presence underscores Malaysia’s increasing scrutiny of foreign nationals on its soil and signals a united front among South and Southeast Asian nations against extremist threats.