Key Takeaways:

• Lal Bahadur Rai, from Dhankuta, died on July 26 while working in Johor Bahru
• His labour permit had expired, complicating repatriation procedures
• Family submitted application to Foreign Employment Board Secretariat for assistance
• Rai leaves behind his wife and three daughters, with locals citing financial hardship

DHANKUTA, JULY 29 The family of a Nepali migrant worker who died in Malaysia is struggling to bring his body home after authorities found that his labour permit had expired, delaying the repatriation process. Lal Bahadur Rai, a resident of Tekunala in Dhankuta Municipality-8, died on July 26 while undergoing treatment after falling seriously ill during duty at a company in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, according to his family. Rai had been working at the company for nearly nine years after leaving Nepal on July 31, 2017, with official labour approval. However, his labour permit had since expired, complicating the legal procedures required to repatriate his body. His younger brother, Ash Bahadur Rai, has submitted an application to the Foreign Employment Board Secretariat through the Dhankuta Municipality Migrant Resource Centre, seeking assistance in bringing the body back to Nepal. Manju Rai, information officer at the Migrant Resource Centre, said legal procedures for repatriation have been initiated following receipt of the application. The deceased is survived by his wife, Sangita Rai, and three daughters - Rajani, Pushpa and Sabina. Locals said the family is in a weak financial position and unable to bear the costs associated with repatriating the body without government assistance.