Ex Bangladesh high commissioner Khairuzzaman freed from detention in Malaysia
Online desk: Malaysian authorities on Wednesday released former Bangladesh high commissioner Mohamed Khairuzzaman from a detention in Kuala Lumpur, according to his lawyer.
On Tuesday, a Malaysian High Court bench issued an interim order asking the immigration department to refrain from deporting Khairuzzaman from the country.
Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan issued the order after a brief hearing on a writ petition submitted by lawyers of Khairuzzaman.
He was detained by the immigration police from his residence in Selangor on the outskirts of the capital of the country on February 9.
Khairuzzaman, a former Bangladesh Army officer, was an accused in a case involving the killing of national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman, who were murdered in the then-Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975.
After the assassinations of the national leaders in 1975, his service was placed at the foreign ministry. He served at the ministry and Bangladesh missions in Egypt and the Philippines in different capacities.
He was sent to retirement and arrested after the taking over of power by the Awami League government in 1996.
Khairuzzaman was granted bail and reinstated as a director general of a wing of the foreign ministry in 2003, after the political changeover and taking over of power by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 2001.
A trial court acquitted him of the charge in 2004.
According to his wife, Rieta Rahman, he called her a few minutes ago to inform her of the good news.
“He told me his lawyers were there to receive him and were bringing him back to his house, reports Malaysia based news portal Free Malaysia Today.
“Thank God and all those who have helped in his release. I thank the Malaysian authorities for this, too,” she told FMT in an interview.
Khairuzzaman’s lawyer Ngeow Chow Ying said no conditions were tied to his release and he was a free man now.
Khairuzzaman, 70, said he was overwhelmed when told of his release and thanked the courts, his lawyers and the Malaysian government for freeing him.
“I went through much embarrassment after being detained following these false allegations by the Bangladeshi government.
“My family members too were going through anxiety and they were extremely worried for my health,” he told FMT in a phone interview.
He reiterated that there were many official records and documents in the public domain to show that he was not involved in any criminal activities.
“Right now, all I want to do is go and meet my wife in the US as soon as possible.
