BD, Myanmar hold Rohingya repatriation talks in city today
JWG members to visit refugee camps tomorrow
Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Bangladesh and Myanmar will hold next joint working group (JWG) meeting on the repatriation of verified Rohingyas today(Tuesday), reports UNB.
The foreign secretary-level meeting will be held at a state guesthouse in the city.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Myint Thu and his Bangladesh counterpart Senior Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs M Shahidul Haque.
They will discuss the Rohingya repatriation issue in detail as there are 'intensive efforts' to begin the repatriation as soon as possible, officials said.
There is a chance to complete the first batch of repatriation with verified 8,000 Rohingyas before the next national election though it is difficult to predict about such a complex issue, said a diplomatic source.
China is pushing for quick implementation of repatriation agreements between Bangladesh and Myanmar, the source added.
Foreign Ministry officials said the Bangladesh side of joint working group members discussed the broad issues on Sunday before the joint working group meeting.
The joint working group members from both sides will visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar on October 31 (tomorrow) and will have interactions with Rohingyas, an official told the news agency.
He said Bangladesh will seek updates on what steps are taken for the safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh wants to make sure that the Rohingyas who are expected to return to Myanmar in the first batch of repatriation may have houses and other facilities to live in their own villages.
"We've completed the village-wise verification of 8,000 Rohingyas to know who came from which village. We want to make sure they can start living in houses in their own villages," said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on October 15.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that India has built 250 houses while China is building 1,000 more. "The returnees will first stay at reception centres in Myanmar and then will go to their villages."
Myanmar has so far failed to take steps to ensure the safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland.