Dhaka observing Myanmar army’s approach cautiously
Foreign Minister AK Abndul Momen has said that Bangladesh is cautiously gauging Myanmar army's intentions about the remaining Rohingya population at Rakhine province, as reports suggest the Myanmar military is taking a reconciliation approach.
"It's welcoming," he said in an exclusive interview with BSS as reports coming from other side of the border said regional military commanders yesterday visited the Rohingya community for the third consecutive day.
Momen said Dhaka decided to "approach directly" the new Myanmar government to resume talks over repatriation, with China's mediation under a tripartite negotiation.
The recent coup in Myanmar forced the postponement of a tripartite working group meeting on February 4 and Dhaka could not communicate with Naypyidaw.
According to the information a regional army commander in Rakhine pledged that the military would solve all problems of the Rohingya crisis step by step and hold Aung Sun Suu Kyi's NLD government responsible.
It was also reported that Myanmar military officials in Rakhine indicated that existing restrictions on Rohingya movements would be eased shortly. Officials in Dhaka said the information gathered through diplomatic and other channels substantiated the reports.
The foreign minister said Myanmar's new military regime was exposed to international criticism, a situation which could prompt them to repatriate Rohingyas from Bangladesh to lighten pressure particularly from the western world.
But, he said, it was "too early to comment" whether the Myanmar military's positive gesture was truly indicative of a softened attitude towards the Rohingyas.
Momen recalled two previous times when Rohingyas were forced to flee their homes in the 70s and 90s. Many were repatriated in 1978 and 1992, when Myanmar was under military rule."The last two repatriations took place when military was in state power in Myanmar. [So] I am optimistic," he said.
He expected the existing bilateral agreements regarding Rohingya repatriation would remain valid since the instruments were signed between two governments.
Bangladesh has provided the neighbours biometric data of 8,30,000 Rohingyas while Myanmar have verified only 42,000 of them.
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