Those of the Bangladeshi workers who have failed to seize the opportunity of the 'Back for Good' (B4G) programme are concerned as the Malaysian authorities are set to launch a massive drive in the New Year.
The B4G programme expired on Tuesday. The 'voluntary' return programme was launched on August 01 in 2019.
However, at least 38,734 undocumented Bangladeshi workers returned home from Malaysia until December 12 last under the B4G programme, according to local media reports.
Besides, Bangladesh High Commission sources said an estimated 50,000 migrant workers would be brought back home under the B4G.
A large number of the undocumented Bangladeshi workers already enjoyed the services under the Kula Lumpur scheme for repatriation, they added.
Migration rights campaigners urged the Malaysian authorities concerned to be lenient towards the workers who wanted to return home taking the opportunity of amnesty, but failed for various reasons.
The number of Bangladeshis returning home is the second largest among all the returnees from the Southeast Asian country under the amnesty programme.
The Malaysian immigration authorities are set to carry out a massive detention operation after the expiry of the B4G programme, reported The Malay Mail, a Malaysian news portal, on December 14 last.
But a number of Bangladeshi workers could not receive special out-passes from the immigration department for various factors. Immigration offices were overcrowded with the workers who went there for services under the B4G scheme, sources said.
The Malay Mail reported that a total of 138,901 illegal immigrants voluntarily returned to their countries of origin until December 12.
Of the number, Indonesians topped the list with 53,328 people returning home. Bangladeshis emerged second with 38,734. Then came Indians with 22,964, Burmese 6,923 and the rest of them accounted for other countries, the report quoted immigration department director general Khairul Dzaimee Daud as saying.
