180,000 eligible for return

Myanmar has so far identified 180,000 of the Rohingya refugees eligible for repatriation, Bangladesh is informed as the issue comes into the limelight of late in different discussions.

A list of 800,000 Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh was provided by Dhaka in six batches during 2018-20.

The final verification of another 70,000 is pending for additional scrutiny of their photographs and names.

This was disclosed Friday to Dr Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, by U Than Shew, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Myanmar, at a meeting on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, said the CA press wing.

This is the first such confirmed list that constitutes a major step toward the longstanding resolution of the Rohingya crisis.

The Myanmar minister also confirmed that the verification of the remaining 550,000 Rohingyas on the original list will be undertaken "on an expeditious basis".

During the meeting, the High Representative expressed his condolences for the earthquake victims of Myanmar and said, "Bangladesh is ready to send further humanitarian support for the disaster-stricken people".

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com