Myanmar on Monday proposed to take back over half a million of its Rohingyas from Bangladesh as the two countries agreed to set up a working group to coordinate the repatriation of the minority Muslims who have fled across the border after a military crackdown.
More than half a million Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh over the last five weeks after militant attacks on police checkposts in the Buddhist majority country sparked violent reprisals. Bangladesh has repeatedly urged Myanmar to repatriate them.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday held talks here with a senior representative of Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “Myanmar has proposed to take back the Rohingyas from Bangladesh,” Ali told newsmen emerging from an over one hour long meeting with Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe.
The two sides agreed on forming a joint working group to oversee the repatriation process but its composition would be decided later by both the countries, he said.
Ali said the meeting was held “in a peaceful manner” and Bangladesh handed over the Myanmar representative a proposed agreement for smooth refugee repatriation and suggested implementation of Annan Commission report for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
“Fruitful discussion was also held on security cooperation (in the meeting) when Bangladesh reiterated its zero tolerance policy against all sorts of terrorism,” Ali said.
Asked if there was any timeframe fixed for forming the joint working group, the minister evaded a direct answer saying “the process has started” but said Bangladesh’s Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan would “soon visit Myanmar to discuss the issue”.