KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry will work alongside the Foreign Ministry to provide necessary assistance upon the return of Malaysians from Bangladesh, tomorrow.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said this includes providing counselling support, accommodation and logistical assistance.

"The ministry welcomes and is grateful for the government's decision, through the National Security Council (NSC) and Wisma Putra, to evacuate all Malaysians in Bangladesh following the escalating tensions in the country.

"As informed by Wisma Putra, the evacuation process will be carried out promptly and will involve more than 124 affected Malaysian students there.

"Let us all pray that the evacuation process goes smoothly and that all Malaysians in Bangladesh return home safely," he said in a statement.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the ministry would evacuate all Malaysians in Bangladesh, especially students, tomorrow. 

Mohamad said arrangements had been made with several government agencies for the evacuation, including the NSC and the management of AirAsia Bhd, to bring them home.

Wisma Putra said yesterday that Malaysian students affected by current developments in Bangladesh had been relocated to the Malaysian High Commission's office in Dhaka. 

The ministry said that the safety of Malaysians abroad remains its priority and was closely monitoring the latest developments in Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi government has imposed a nationwide curfew on Saturday in response to escalating violence and protests.

The country erupted in chaos after its Supreme Court scrapped most government job quotas.

The nationwide protest saw clashes between police and university students that led to the deaths of 133 people. 

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1080225/higher-education-ministry-work-wisma-putra-assist-malaysians-returning