Rohingya repat likely to start before Dec

Bangladesh prepares for the start of long-stalled repatriation of Rohingya refugees on a pilot basis before December, ahead of crucial general election in the country.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen Sunday rolled out a plan regarding repatriation of the Myanmar nationals from camps in Bangladesh's southeastern frontier area.
Talking to reporters at the Foreign Ministry on the day, the foreign secretary mentioned that a high-level delegation headed by a director general of the ministry will visit the Rakhine state of Myanmar in September.
"Myanmar government proposed this visit to show the delegation the environment and infrastructure they have built for the Rohingya people," he added.
"After the visit of this delegation, Myanmar will also send their delegation to Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps. They will talk to the Rohingya people there and brief them about the measures they have taken to ensure a conducive environment for their repatriation," the foreign secretary said.
Responding to a question, he mentioned Bangladesh has handed over a list of around 3,000 Rohingyas for repatriation in the first go.
"Among them, we expect around 1,000 Rohingyas will be repatriated in the first spell," the foreign secretary said.
Members of the same family and area will be given priority for repatriation under the plan. Mr Masud makes it clear that Bangladesh is "committed to safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas".
He also stated that some international organisations have reservations about repatriating Rohingyas now as they argued the Rakhine state does not have a conducive environment for this.
Since the influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh in August 2017, two attempts had been made for repatriation, but both failed to take off as Rohingyas refused to go back at the time citing lack of security.
The foreign secretary recently said at the programmes organised by them in the Cox's Bazar camps to mark the sixth anniversary of their arrival in Bangladesh Rohingyas made it clear that they want to go back home in Rakhine state in Myanmar.
Over 1.0 million Rohingyas have taken shelter in Bangladesh since 2017, in the face of brutal crackdown by the Myanmar security forces.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com