Myanmar's proposed repatriation process for Rohingyas unrealistic: FM

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali today said that Rohingyas' repatriation process based on verification of their identities under the 1992 joint statement is now unrealistic.

The situation of 1992 and the current one are totally different as half of the Muslim villages in the northern Rakhine State of Myanmar have been burned down and are still being burned, he told foreign diplomats this afternoon.

"So, identification of Rohingyas based on their residence in Rakhine would not be realistic in this circumstance," Mahmood Ali said while briefing the diplomats at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka about the latest situation of Rohingyas, who fled to Bangladesh following the persecution in Myanmar.

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The statement, released following the meeting of Bangladesh and Myanmar representatives on October 2, mentioned that repatriation has to be done on the basis of verification of the refugees in line with the criteria agreed to by the two countries in a joint statement in 1992.

Citing the facts, the foreign minister sought the engagement of all foreign diplomats for a peaceful end to the Rohingya crisis as their forced exodus to Bangladesh created a serious humanitarian crisis.

"Atrocities in the Rakhine State of Myanmar have not been stopped and Rohingyas are continuing to cross the border," he said.

Clearing government stance over the Rohingya issue, the foreign minister said Bangladesh wants a peaceful end to the Rohingya crisis instead of war.

Mahmood also shared that the home minister will visit Rakhine State at the invitation of Myanmar to discuss the issue.

"Our home minister along with five foreign diplomats will visit Myanmar soon and schedule in this regard has been put forward. Now, the ball to resolve the crisis is in Myanmar's court," Mahmood said.

According to UN bodies, as of today, around 520,000 Rohingyas crossed the border since August 25. Nearly 40,000 of them arrived in the last 10 days, he added.

Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Charge de Affairs from diplomatic Missions of Australia, China, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, India, The Netherlands, Vatican, Denmark, Spain, EU, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Switzerland and Norway attended the diplomatic briefing.