By Mir Afroz Zaman

Under the special initiative of the Myanmar Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 173 Bangladeshi citizens who were imprisoned in Rakhine, Myanmar and whose citizenship was verified, returned to Bangladesh by sea from Myanmar on April 24, 2024. In addition, the repatriation of 288 Myanmar BGP, army, immigration and other members who took refuge in Bangladesh due to the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar will be completed tomorrow on April 25 and if necessary on April 26, 2024. Repatriation program organized at BIWTA Ghat in Cox's Bazar. Myanmar ship Chin Duin has arrived in Bangladesh with the defecting Bangladeshi nationals and will leave Bangladesh with Myanmar troops and others.

The repatriation of the citizens of the two countries is being done in the light of the decision taken in several inter-ministerial meetings led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the return of the citizens of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Repatriation to Myanmar is proposed through the Myanmar Embassy in Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon. On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the help of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the verification process of the said citizens in Bangladesh was quickly completed.

First, Myanmar authorities agreed to repatriate 144 verified Bangladeshi nationals who had completed prison terms or received amnesty. However, under the special initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Myanmar authorities agreed to send back to Bangladesh all Bangladeshi citizens who have completed their imprisonment, have been imprisoned and are under trial, and have verified their citizenship. As a result, the Myanmar authorities released another 29 Bangladeshi citizens. The liaison of the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon and the representative of the Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe coordinated with the Myanmar authorities in this regard. Local Member of Parliament of Cox's Bazar Sadar Saimum Sarwar Kamal welcomed the Bangladeshi citizens who were present at Jet Ghat.

Immigration of Bangladeshi citizens who came to Myanmar by ship, other related activities including health examination and necessary activities for sending Myanmar army and other members have been completed with the help of Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB, Coast Guard, District Administration, District Police, District Civil Surgeon and other authorities. The Bangladeshi nationals will be handed over to their relatives after completing the necessary tasks.

The Myanmar delegation arriving by ship today will quickly identify the Myanmar BGP and other members of the BGB who have taken refuge in Bangladesh and complete the necessary documentation. The asylum seekers will be handed over to the BGP members who arrived by ship in the presence of representatives of the Myanmar Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned to Bangladesh.

It should be noted that so far this year more than 600 asylum seeker members of Myanmar's BGP and military forces have been provided asylum and return on humanitarian grounds. BGB authorities have provided humanitarian assistance to Myanmar BGPs, army personnel and others who have taken refuge and arrangements have been made for their repatriation through a bilateral initiative through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.