Rohingya repatriation: Myanmar now proposes new joint committee

Myanmar has proposed to form a new joint committee with Bangladesh to settle the Rohingya verification issues, nearly three years after the two countries held a bilateral meeting on Rohingya repatriation.

The proposal of forming the committee, comprised of officials from both the countries, came in late December, said a foreign ministry official, seeking anonymity.

Talking to The Daily Star, the official on Tuesday said, "They proposed the idea and we received it positively."

Earlier, multiple repatriation attempts fell flat as the Rohingyas denied returning to their homeland arguing their demands for guaranteed safety, basic rights and citizenship.

Around 750,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh in August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown on the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

Meanwhile, on New Year eve, Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin sent greetings and gifts to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen through the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka.

"Those are good news. They [Myanmar] are showing warm gestures," Momen told The Daily Star at his ministry office on Monday.

Asked about a meeting that Myanmar proposed, the foreign minister said it might happen at any moment. "It will depend on them. We are always ready."

He also said the topmost priority for Bangladesh was the Rohingya repatriation and it was proved to be a big challenge.

"Five years have passed, but we could not do anything. We are trying and seeking help from our friends. Some showed sympathy, some promised assistance. Let us see."