ROHINGYA REPATRIATION

Bangladesh sends proposal to Myanmar on JWG composition

Rohingya arrivals near 10 lakh: IOM

Bangladesh has sent a proposal to Myanmar regarding the composition of its side of the proposed joint working group (JWP) that will work on the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, who took shelter in Cox’s Bazar to escape atrocities by their security forces and local Buddhist mobs in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said a joint working group comprising representatives from both Bangladesh and Myanmar will be formed by November 30 aimed at repatriating the Rohingyas to their homeland. Meanwhile, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UN migration agency, said that the number of Rohingyas arriving in Cox’s Bazar is getting close to 10 lakh.

“We, in our recent visit, signed an agreement with Myanmar to pave the way for forming a joint working group by November 30 with same number of representatives of both the countries to repatriate the Rohingyas,” the home minister said after unveiling foundation stone of Araiani Police Camp at Nalitabari of Sherpur district yesterday. The working group will be entrusted with the responsibility of deciding how and when the Rohingyas will be sent back to the Rakhine state of Myanmar, the minister added.

A senior government official familiar with the process told The Independent yesterday, “We have already sent a proposal to Myanmar outlining the composition of our side of the group. The proposal did not contain any names. We just made them known what level of representation we wish to have,”  “Having heard from the Myanmar side, we will send the names,” he said.

On August 31, 2014, during the Foreign Office Consultations, Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to put in place a process within two months to resume repatriation. It was also agreed that a joint working group involving different agencies of the two governments would be constituted within this period to deal with the process. Accordingly, Bangladesh side had put forward 10 names for the Bangladesh side of the group. But, there was no response from the Myanmar side.

When asked about the number and level of representation, the officials concerned would not disclose the information at this time.  However, they said that the number will be around 10.

“The number will be like the one in 2014. But, this time we wish to be have policy making officials in the group. That means the officials this time will be more high profile than the previous time,” said the officials. “We are waiting for the reply from the Myanmar side,” he said, adding, “The joint working group will be formed once the names of two sides are exchanged.”

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali recently said that the joint working group between the two countries will be formed within this month. The IOM has warned that the number of Rohingya arrivals is getting closer to 10 lakh.

“Although the numbers have reduced, there are still thousands of Rohingya refugees arriving in the settlements each week and the total number in Cox’s Bazar is getting closer and closer to 1 million,” IOM spokesperson on Rohingya crisis Olivia Headon tweeted yesterday.

According to IOM, as of Tuesday 6.11 lakh Rohingyas arrived in Cox’s Bazar since August 25 and prior to August influx, 2.12 lakh had arrived since October, last year.

But, as per Bangladesh government sources, the number of Rohingyas living in the country has crossed 10 lakh mark long ago, if the Rohingyas who fled to the Bangladesh and residing here before the two recent influxes are taken into account.

ROHINGYA REPATRIATION

Bangladesh sends proposal to Myanmar on JWG composition

Rohingya arrivals near 10 lakh: IOM

Bangladesh has sent a proposal to Myanmar regarding the composition of its side of the proposed joint working group (JWP) that will work on the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, who took shelter in Coxs Bazar to escape atrocities by their security forces and local Buddhist mobs in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said a joint working group comprising representatives from both Bangladesh and Myanmar will be formed by November 30 aimed at repatriating the Rohingyas to their homeland. Meanwhile, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UN migration agency, said that the number of Rohingyas arriving in Coxs Bazar is getting close to 10 lakh. We, in our recent visit, signed an agreement with Myanmar to pave the way for forming a joint working group by November 30 with same number of representatives of both the countries to repatriate the Rohingyas, the home minister said after unveiling foundation stone of Araiani Police Camp at Nalitabari of Sherpur district yesterday. The working group will be entrusted with the responsibility of deciding how and when the Rohingyas will be sent back to the Rakhine state of Myanmar, the minister added. A senior government official familiar with the process told The Independent yesterday, We have already sent a proposal to Myanmar outlining the composition of our side of the group. The proposal did not contain any names. We just made them known what level of representation we wish to have, Having heard from the Myanmar side, we will send the names, he said. On August 31, 2014, during the Foreign Office Consultations, Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to put in place a process within two months to resume repatriation. It was also agreed that a joint working group involving different agencies of the two governments would be constituted within this period to deal with the process. Accordingly, Bangladesh side had put forward 10 names for the Bangladesh side of the group. But, there was no response from the Myanmar side. When asked about the number and level of representation, the officials concerned would not disclose the information at this time. However, they said that the number will be around 10. The number will be like the one in 2014. But, this time we wish to be have policy making officials in the group. That means the officials this time will be more high profile than the previous time, said the officials. We are waiting for the reply from the Myanmar side, he said, adding, The joint working group will be formed once the names of two sides are exchanged. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali recently said that the joint working group between the two countries will be formed within this month. The IOM has warned that the number of Rohingya arrivals is getting closer to 10 lakh. Although the numbers have reduced, there are still thousands of Rohingya refugees arriving in the settlements each week and the total number in Coxs Bazar is getting closer and closer to 1 million, IOM spokesperson on Rohingya crisis Olivia Headon tweeted yesterday. According to IOM, as of Tuesday 6.11 lakh Rohingyas arrived in Coxs Bazar since August 25 and prior to August influx, 2.12 lakh had arrived since October, last year. But, as per Bangladesh government sources, the number of Rohingyas living in the country has crossed 10 lakh mark long ago, if the Rohingyas who fled to the Bangladesh and residing here before the two recent influxes are taken into account.