Rohingya Repatriation: Dhaka to send second list of up to 10,000
The government has prepared the second list of around 10,000 Rohingyas for repatriation.
The list will be handed over to Myanmar authorities for verification, according to officials present at a meeting at the foreign ministry yesterday.
Bangladesh government is likely to sign a deal with the UNHCR next week to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingyas as well as to ensure “safe and voluntary” return of the Myanmar nationals to their home, they told The Daily Star.
The agreement with the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is at the final stage and ready for signing.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque chaired the meeting, which was held in preparation for the second joint working group meeting expected to be held in Bangladesh next month.
On February 16, the government handed the first list of 8,032 Rohingyas of 1,673 families over to Myanmar authorities. There has been no progress regarding their repatriation.
Myanmar authorities informed Dhaka that they had so far verified around 600 people.
On January 21, the UNHCR gave a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding to the government for signing.
In order to ensure that the return is voluntary, foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has incorporated provisions for involvement of the UNHCR and other relevant international organisations in the process.
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