I Will Not Bow Down My Head: Rayhan Kabir

After 29 days in detention in Malaysia, Rayhan Kabir returned to Bangladesh. "I was detained for speaking out about torturing expatriates. They couldn't break me down even with torture. I will always speak for justice,"  he said during an interview with Deutsche Welle. 

Rayhan arrived in Dhaka from Malaysia on late Thursday night. On Friday morning, he went to his village home in Narayanganj. Malaysia canceled his work permit and sent him back to Bangladesh. But after his arrest, the country's police could not bring any charges against him, which is why he was released.

"I was in jail for 29 days, I was remanded. Although I was not physically abused, I was under a lot of stress," Rayhan told Deutsche Welle on Friday afternoon.

Rayhan said they had repeatedly asked him if he had told Al Jazeera about the torture of expatriates for any political purpose. Whether there is any contact of any political party or gang with him. Investigators checked all his electronic devices, phones, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. They also investigated whether anyone in Bangladesh had influenced him. But they did not get any such connection. He was also asked if he had given interviews to tarnish the image of the Malaysian government.

"I worked as a student organizer while studying in Malaysia," Rayhan said. I am the first among Bangladeshis to highlight the torture of expatriates. I gave an interview because Al Jazeera contacted me. I have said what they do with the expatriates. There are 6 human rights violations. Expatriates are being tortured. I did not tell any untruth and I will always speak for justice. "

Rayhan is now worried about his future. Although he did not commit any crime, he was expelled from Malaysia. He lost his job. He wants redressal and compensation for this wrongdoing "But to whom should I ask?"

Rayhans are two brothers and sisters. His father Shah Alam worked in a private company. "It cost me three lakh rupees to send Rayhan to Malaysia," he said. He also got a job at the end of his studies. Now there is nothing. I am happy that my son is back. I urge the government to do something for Raihan," he said, adding that the government had not contacted him since his arrest.

On July 3, Al-Jazeera released a documentary titled "Locked up in Malaysian Lockdown-101 East". The report highlights the Malaysian government's discriminatory treatment of migrants during the epidemic through the Movement Control Order (MCO). An interview with Rayhan Kabir was also shown there. After that, the immigration department of Malaysia started looking for Rayhan. An arrest warrant was issued against him and his picture was published to provide information. Police arrested Rayhan on July 24.

Rayhan said the situation there had improved somewhat since his arrest. They now want to show the world that the human rights of expatriates are not being violated. Prison conditions have also improved.

Domestic and foreign human rights organizations put pressure for his release. BRAC's immigration chief Shariful Hasan was also active in seeking Rayhan's release. He said, "Apart from Bangladesh, Malaysia can handcuff the citizens of any other country?" Raihan did not commit any crime but he still had to stay in jail. It is a violation of human rights. The government should look into this matter. If a country wants, it can expel the citizens of another country from its country. But they must have a reason. The government of Bangladesh should take initiative to collect compensation for Raihan. If a country like Nepal can stand by the side of migrants, why can't Bangladesh! "

However, none of the concerned departments of the Bangladesh government has agreed to talk about these issues.

Source: DW Bangla
Translator: Apurbo Roy