DHAKA: Foreign affairs secretary M. Shahidul Huq said Myanmar government has agreed to bear all the expenses regarding Rohingya repatriation.

He made the disclosure after returning home finalizing ‘Physical Arrangement’ deal with Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation.

The secretary said though initially Myanmar will start the repatriation process by taking back 300 Rohingyas a day, it will speed up within three months. 

“Myanmar has also agreed to take help from International Red Cross. However, they haven’t agreed to take assistance from the United Nations.”

Shahidul Huq said also said that Bangladesh has demanded for 1500 Rohingya repatriation per day. Myanmar will increase the number after few months. 

On Tuesday morning (January 16), the ‘Physical Arrangement’ deal was finalized in the first meeting of joint working group held in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw. 

Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh M Shahidul Haque and Permanent Secretary of Mayanmar Mint Tho represented their respective countries.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from August 25, 2017 after the Myanmar army started operating vicious ethnic cleansing on Rohingyas in Myanmar`s Rakhine state. Although they were provided shelter in Cox`s Bazar, Bangladesh was demanding their safe return from the beginning.

BDST: 2050 HRS, JAN 17, 2018
AP/SMS