Home Minister confirms arrest of former Bangladeshi High Commissioner to M'sia

PUTRAJAYA: Authorities here have confirmed the arrest of former Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Malaysia M. Khairuzzaman.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said he was aware of the arrest of the former diplomat.

"The arrest was made according to procedures," he said on Thursday (Feb 10).

On the grounds of the arrest, the minister said it was due to "an offence committed and a request by his home country," he said

According to reports, Malaysian authorities had arrested the former high commissioner, who is said to have been living here for more than a decade.

Khairuzzaman, a retired army major, was accused of participating in the 1975 Jail Killing case and was later acquitted before being appointed as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Malaysia in 2007 during the caretaker government.

After the Awami League-led government came to power in 2009, he was recalled to Dhaka.

Assuming risks upon his return, Khairuzzaman obtained the UN Refugee Card in Kuala Lumpur and continued to stay there.