Staff Reporter :
A 10-member delegation of Myanmar government arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday to see the condition of Rohingya people staying in three refugee camps.
After arrival, the team met Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar district Mohammad Ali Hossain to get a preliminary picture about the Rohingya issue.
Later, the team went to Kutupalong Rohingya Camp in Ukhia yesterday afternoon. The team is scheduled to visit Balukhali and Leda refugee camps today [Monday].
Led by Myanmar Investigation Commission Secretary U Zaw Myint Pe, the team also comprises four other Commission members, including U Tun Myat, Dr Daw Thet Thet Zin, U Nyunt Swe, and Daw Kyein Ngai Man.
When contacted, Cox’s Bazar DC Ali Hossain said, “The delegation mainly discussed about the prospect of mutual relations, including economic and cultural development, between the two neighbouring countries. Besides, they inquired about the condition of Rohingyas.”
Replying to a question, the DC said, “The visiting Myanmar team has admitted about the entering of Rohingya people into Bangladesh territory. But the team wanted to know the exact reason behind their arrival and so, they will visit Balukhali and Leda refugee camps on Monday.”
Myanmar government had to face a wave of criticism following massive torture and repression on Rohingya nationals by the Myanmar Army in October and November last year.
The Army conducted the operation in Bordering Muslim dominated Arakan State after attacks on some army camps by the armed groups.
According to International Migrant Organisation, at least 70,000 fresh Rohingya Muslims entered Bangladesh at that time. Against the backdrop of huge criticism, the Myanmar government had formed an Investigation Commission headed by U Myint Swe. Now, five members of the Commission are visiting Bangladesh. The Investigation Commission recently said it has settled several issues including resettlement and free movement of the Muslim community in conflict areas in northern Rakhine.
Earlier on January 29, three-member of Myanmar’s “Advisory Commission on Rakhine State” visited two unregistered Rohingya camps — Paschim Balukhali Rohingya camp in Palongkhali Union of Ukhia upazila and Leda camp in Hnila union of Teknaf Upazila.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh’s government is moving forward with a plan to relocate Rohingya refugees staying in camps near the country’s largest tourist resort towns to a remote island in the sea. A recent Cabinet order has directed officials to have the refugees transferred to Thengar Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal. The relocation plan was last proposed in 2015, but the government halted for different reasons.
