Bangladesh and Myanmar yesterday decided to form a joint working group by November 30 to start the repatriation of Rohingyas who fled violence in Rakhine State and took shelter in Bangladesh.

The development came at a bilateral meeting in Naypyidaw where the Myanmar side also consented to implement the recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and his Myanmarese counterpart Lt Gen Kyaw Swe.

Kamal is on a three-day visit to discuss various bilateral issues including the refugee crisis.

The two sides signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on security cooperation and dialogue and establishment of Border Liaison Office, according to a press statement issued by Bangladesh home ministry.

Earlier on October 2, the two neighbours held talks in Dhaka and agreed to constitute the joint working group to start the repatriation of the Myanmarese nationals. Bangladesh also proposed a bilateral agreement to facilitate the process.

More than 600,000 Rohingyas crossed over into Bangladesh in an unprecedented influx triggered by a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine since August 25. This is in addition to around 300,000 refugees who came in several phases since 1992.

Home Minister Kamal, who left for Myanmar on Monday leading a 15-member delegation, is scheduled to meet Myanmar's de facto leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, this morning.

At the meeting yesterday, the two sides agreed to take effective steps to stop narcotics production and smuggling and fully implement the border agreement signed in 1980.

Kamal urged the Myanmar authorities to take measures to end drug trafficking from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Talking to BBC Bangla, the Bangladesh minister said he asked Myanmar to stop the Rohingya persecution as well as the ongoing exodus. In reply, the Myanmar authorities claimed that no persecution was going on and those people were leaving for Bangladesh willingly.

Replying to a query, Kamal told BBC that he wanted to visit Rakhine but did not get a positive response.

According to Reuters, Tin Myint, permanent secretary of Myanmar's home ministry, told reporters that the two sides have agreed "to halt the outflow of Myanmar residents to Bangladesh", and "form a joint working group". 

He said the two countries agreed "to restore normalcy in Rakhine to enable displaced Myanmar residents to return from Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity".

Tin Myint added that Myanmar had sent a list of suspects who had fled to Bangladesh and requested the authorities there to investigate and return them to Myanmar, reports Reuters.

Rohingyas are denied citizenship under the 1982 law enacted by former dictator U Ne Win. The law doesn't recognise the minority group as one of the country's 135 ethnic groups.

In March, the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan called for freedom of movement for all people in Rakhine and a review of the citizenship law.

The commission also recommended facilitating voluntary and peaceful return of the refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar through joint verification, complying with international standards.