DHAKA: Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to form a joint panel for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
The decision came in a meeting in Dhaka between Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A. H. Mahmud Ali and Myanmar鈥檚 Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe.
鈥淢yanmar has proposed taking back Rohingya refugees. We鈥檝e agreed on forming a joint working group to oversee the repatriation process,鈥� Ali said after the meeting.
More than half a million Rohingya Muslim refugees have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, amid atrocities committed by the Myanmar Army.
During the meeting, Bangladesh proposed a treaty with Myanmar to ensure the smooth repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
The draft of the treaty was handed to the Myanmar delegation. The date for launching the joint working group is yet to be announced.
Asif Munir, a Dhaka-based migration expert, said: 鈥淚n any joint working group or bilateral treaty, there should be a provision for inclusion of a neutral third party like an international observer body, so in case of any disagreements at the negotiation table they can mitigate the situation.鈥�
He added: 鈥淭he situation in (Myanmar鈥檚) Rakhine state will be one of the prime concerns for this joint working group. Repatriation depends on this. We have to make sure there鈥檚 a peaceful environment for Rohingya in Rakhine.
鈥淭he panel members need to visit Rakhine to see whether peace prevails there. Similarly, they鈥檒l also pay a visit to refugee camps in Cox鈥檚 Bazar to see how Bangladesh is delivering humanitarian services to the Rohingya.鈥�
Myanmar鈥檚 Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye told the Myanmar Times: 鈥淲e are considering the repatriation of thousands of Muslim refugees as fast as possible based on the 1993 Myanmar-Bangladesh agreement.鈥�
Under that deal, 鈥渁ll those carrying Myanmar identity cards,鈥� those able to present 鈥渙ther documents issued by relevant Myanmar authorities,鈥� all those 鈥渁ble to furnish evidence of their residence in Myanmar,鈥� and 鈥渁ll those willing to return to Myanmar鈥� will be eligible to do so.