Rohingyas Maungdaw Trip: They are to see their homeland after 6 years

All preparations have been completed for a 20-member Rohingya delegation's visit to the Rakhine state in Myanmar today. This is for the first time in nearly six years the refugees will see their homeland.

Upon the return of the Rohingya delegation from Myanmar's Maungdaw, the first batch of Rohingya repatriation could start at the end of the month.

"Delegations of 20-member Rohingya and government officials will visit the Maungdaw township in Myanmar," said Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.

The delegation will see the resettlement and security arrangements done by Myanmar, he added.

"We will start for Myanmar from the Teknaf jetty around 9:00am and it will be a one-day trip. We came back in the evening," he said.

Six officials, led by the RRRC, will accompany the Rohingyas.

A Majhi (community leader), a teacher, an imam, and four women are in the Rohingya team.

"They were selected from a group of Rohingyas willing to return to Myanmar. They will share their experiences with others and hopefully this trip will encourage others to return," said a top official wishing not to be named.

Sources said Rohingyas and the officials will go to Maungdaw on boat, which has been hired. Myanmar authorities will arrange everything on their side.

Rohingyas will be first taken to a transit centre and then to villages where construction work is going on for their resettlement.

"... Their visit is significant. If they feel assured after witnessing the situation in Rakhine, it will be conducive to repatriation," said RRRC Mizanur.