Brac Migration Programme has described the allegation of a policeman forcing a returning Bangladeshi worker to pay bribe even though he had valid travel papers as "nothing new". 

The organisation had received countless similar reports from Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, reports Free Malaysia Today (FMT). 

The NGO urged the Malaysian police to put a stop to harassment of Bangladeshi workers, adding that it would send an official complaint to the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

Shariful Hasan, Head of Brac Migration Programme, told The Daily Star, "The incident is unfortunate, but not new. The Bangladeshi had all the valid documents, including Covid-19 negative certificate, to return to the country. Even after showing the documents, police were asking for bribe. This is because the police know the man is a Bangladeshi, and nothing happens when a Bangladeshi in exploited." 

"During several visits, I've found Bangladeshis being harassed in the country. Bribery and extortion are regular phenomena. I've also heard that when a Bangladeshi's work permit expires, they are forced to give bribes when stopped by police. Police also have a negative attitude towards Bangladeshis." he said. 

He also claimed that Bangladeshis were often isolated and interrogated at Kuala Lumpur airport and mistreated at detention centres. 

FMT reported earlier today that Malaysian police are investigating an incident of alleged bribery near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after the video went viral on WhatsApp. 

An unnamed taxi driver filmed policemen demanding bribe from a Bangladeshi passenger who was on his way back to his home country after months of unemployment. 

In the video, first circulated on Wednesday, policemen were seen stopping the vehicle at a roadblock, but the passenger showed them his documents, which were in order, the taxi driver speaking in Tamil claimed. 

However, the passenger was asked to pay RM 1,000 as fine for crossing the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor border, while the driver was let off. Later the police took the passenger a bit away from the cab and extorted RM 100 from him, the taxi driver further said, according to the report. 

"We are taking this issue very seriously. We will not compromise on any form of wrongdoing, fellow officer or not," said Selangor police in a Facebook post and thanked the person who brought the matter to their attention.