No deadline can be fixed right now for the repatriation of over one million Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh in the face of atrocities by Myanmar security forces, said the foreign secretary on Monday.
"But Myanmar's attitude towards the repatriation of Rohingyas is positive," M Shahidul Haque said while talking to newsmen after a closed-door meeting on Rohingya issue at the Centre for Genocide Studies of Dhaka University.
Mr Haque who visited Rakhine along with the foreign minister a couple of days ago said, "We have met with the Myanmar minister who is supervising the preparations for repatriating Rohingyas. We had a very open and good discussion on the Rohingya issue. Then we visited Rakhine state to see the preparations."
They visited a reception centre and some houses which have been constructed by Myanmar, he said.
He added: "We have also visited a village where India was building infrastructures for Rohingyas. Besides, we have met some local people."
"We found both the Myanmar government and local people are willing to take back Rohingyas. Previously, such willingness was not found," the foreign secretary said terming the development positive.
When asked, he said the deadline for beginning the repatriation cannot be set now as it is a long and complicated process.
As their livelihood, safety and dignity need to be ensured before sending them back, he added. "So, none can set such deadline."
Mr Haque said they found vast tracts of fertile land which were cultivated by Rohingyas remained barren in Rakhine state.
They do not have manpower to cultivate that. And definitely Rohingyas are willing to go back to these fertile lands which belong to them, he noted.
About the Myanmar's mindset in granting Rohingyas citizenship, he said, they told us that they had started the process.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com