Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday signed a document on ‘Physical Arrangement’ which will facilitate return of Rohingays to their homeland from Bangladesh.
The ‘Physical Arrangement’ stipulates that the repatriation would be completed preferably within two years from the commencement of repatriation. “It’s good progress. We can view it very positively,” an official told UNB expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on the return of the displaced Rohingyas from Rakhine State, held on Monday-Tuesday in Nay Pyi Taw.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Myanmar Permanent Secretary Myint Thu led Bangladesh and Myanmar delegations in the meeting respectively and signed the document on’Physical Arrangement’.
The signed ‘Physical Arrangement’ is guided by the earlier understanding and principles under the signed “Arrangement on return of displaced person from Rakhine State” and the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the joint working group (JWG). Verification and return of Rohingyas will be based on considering the family as a unit. The two countries also finalised the “form” for verification. Initially, some 1500 Rohingyas will be sent back every week and gradually the number will be increased, said a diplomatic source.
Modalities for repatriation of orphans and children born out of unwarranted incidence have been incorporated in the said arrangement, according to Foreign Ministry here. Under the ‘Physical Arrangement’ Bangladesh will establish five transit camps from which returnees would be received initially in two reception centers on Myanmar side. Myanmar will shelter the returnees in a temporary accommodation at the Hla Pho Khung and expeditiously rebuild the houses for the returnees to move in there.
Myanmar will also consider resettling the people staying at the zero line on a priority basis. Myanmar has reiterated its commitment to stop outflow of Myanmar residents to Bangladesh. Both countries agreed to form two ‘Technical Working Group’, one on verification and the other on return.
The ‘Physical Arrangement’ has included modalities of the relevant aspects of the return. On November 23, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed ‘Arrangement’ on Return of displaced Myanmar persons sheltered in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali signed the bilateral instrument and Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister signed the instrument on behalf of the respective governments at the State Counsellor’s Office. The ‘Arrangement’ stipulates that the return shall commence within two months. However, it is not yet clear whether the repatriation will start by this month.
