Bangladesh
Rohingya Repatriation Director General-level meeting in Myanmar in September
Dhaka, August 28: A delegation from Bangladesh will visit Rakhine next month (September) with a view to repatriating some of the Rohingyas sheltered under the pilot project to Myanmar this year. Besides, a delegation from Myanmar will visit Bangladesh to raise morale about the return of Rohingyas to Rakhine.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen shared this information while talking to some journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
He said that a delegation of officials at the director general level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related officials is scheduled to go to Myanmar. They are scheduled to have a meeting with the Director General level in Myanmar. They can see the situation on the ground. Perhaps Rakhine Province will show them.
Masud bin Momen said, then a delegation from Myanmar will come here. They will talk to Rohingyas and their families on an individual level. What they (Myanmar) have shared with us, if we share with the Rohingyas, their confidence will increase.
Masud bin Momen informed about the government's plan to repatriate the Rohingyas within this year. He said, it is difficult to move during monsoon season. We are hoping for a dry season. That's why preparations can be made in September when the monsoon ends. If you prepare in September this year, you will have three months.
In response to the question whether the repatriation can be done before December, the foreign secretary said, "We are hopeful."
In response to the question of how many Rohingyas are targeted to be sent under the pilot project, Masud bin Momen said, "We have given a list of over three thousand." They take as many of them as possible. It should also be seen that it does not break from a family and is from the same area. Our initial discussion was a thousand.
The foreign secretary said, some international organizations or countries have some conditions. They have questions about whether we will send them back voluntarily or whether it will be sustainable or whether there is sufficient security in Rakhine State. We are working on them. If they clear the list we have given to Myanmar, we will try to send those Rohingyas who want to go.
