US to BD, Myanmar: Keep facilitating unrestricted access to adrift migrants

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UNB, Dhaka :
The United States has urged Bangladesh and Myanmar to continue to facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access to adrift migrants.
“We urge, encourage Burma and Bangladesh to continue to facilitate the unrestricted humanitarian access and to work with international organizations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, and to process these migrants in line with their international commitments,” said Jeff Rathke, director, Press Office of the US Department of State at a
regular briefing in Washington on Tuesday.
The official said the US also understands that the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh are working with appropriate international organisations to verify the identities of the migrants who have disembarked.
About the 150 migrants rescued by Myanmar navy, who were repatriated to Bangladesh Monday, Rathke said this was a result of cooperation between the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
“Well, the – we’re aware of reports of about 150 migrants who may be repatriated to Bangladesh within the coming days.”
Responding to another question, the official said, “Well, I don’t really have a comment on the prime minister’s (Indian PM Narendra Modi) visit to Bangladesh. Of course, we support good relations between the two countries, but I don’t have further – any further comment to offer on that visit.”
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