Myanmar proposes to repatriate Rohingyas

Myanmar today proposed to repatriate the Rohingya refugees who have fled into Bangladesh following persecution in the Rakhine state.

Kyaw Tint Swe, a minister of Myanmar State Counsellor Office, offered the proposal while meeting Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.

After completion of the one hour and 15 minutes meeting, Foreign Minister Ali briefed media and disclosed about Myanmar’s proposal to repatriate its nationals.

According to him, both sides decided to form a joint working group soon which will draw up plans for the repatriation process or Rohingya refugees.

Under international pressure, Aung San Suu Kyi, in her speech last month, had spoken of taking back the Rohingyas, but had said Myanmar would conduct a process of verification.

In today’s meeting, Bangladesh handed Myanmar with a draft agreement of repatriation and suggested implementations of the Annan Commission report.

“Talks were held in a peaceful manner,” Minister AH Mahmood Ali said after the meeting at state guest house Padma. “Myanmar proposed to take back the Rohingyas from Bangladesh”.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, state minister for foreign affairs, foreign secretary and other high officials attended the meeting.

Bangladesh is currently sheltering 507,000 Rohingya refugees, who have flooded in since August 25. At the same time, Bangladesh has been pushing Myanmar to take back the refugees.

The international community has thrown condemnation towards Myanmar for violence in Rakhine state – a fact proved by satellite images while denounced by Myanmar government.