DHAKA: After longtime talks and international intervention, Rohingya repatriation is scheduled to begin on Thursday (August 22), but no Rohingya has agreed to return to Myanmar so far.

Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Md Abul Kalam was speaking to reporters on Thursday (August 22) noon

He can't say firmly whether the Rohingyas repatriation would begin despite their reluctances to return to Myanmar.

Earlier on August 16, international media reported that Myanmar and Bangladesh are to make a fresh attempt to begin repatriating the Rohingya Muslims who fled ethnic cleansing in Rahkine state in 2017.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled over to border to Bangladesh after a military-led crackdown in Rahkine state which saw villages razed, women raped and thousands killed. A UN fact-finding mission declared the violence had “genocidal intent”. 

A document from prepared by UN agency UNHCR to be sent to the Rohingya community to inform them of the repatriation plan said: “The Government of Myanmar has confirmed that 3,450 Rohingya refugees are eligible to return. This is a welcome first step as it acknowledges that your right to return is recognized.”

The first group of Rohingyas would return to Myanmar next week, providing any agree to go back. “We have agreed to the repatriation of 3,540 people on August 22,” an international news agency reports quoting Myint Thu, a spokesman for Myanmar’s ministry of foreign affairs.

According to UNHCR, the Bangladesh government shared the names of Rohingya approved for repatriation with the UN agency on August 8.

This is the second attempt to begin repatriation, after a first effort in November 2018 failed when none of the 2,000 Rohingya approved for return agreed to go back to Myanmar voluntarily.

BDST: 1355 HRS, AUG 22, 2019
RS/SMS