Rohingya repatriation: ‘Bangladesh’s interest kept intact’

- Repatriation cannot be done in a given time frame
- Both countries agreed to take help from UNHCR
- Complexities, if there any, to be resolved through discussions
- 'Physical arrangement' for repatriation to be signed
- After repatriation, Rohingyas will be kept at temporary camps near to their abandoned homes
- Bangladesh proposed Myanmar to seek help from India, China for making makeshift camps for Rohingyas
Expressing his satisfaction over the arrangement signed with Myanmar on repatriation of the Rohingyas, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali today said the deal hampered no interests of Bangladesh.
The main thing is to send the Rohingyas back to Myanmar and the repatriation will be done in a "logical time frame", the foreign minister told journalists while replying to a query at a press conference at his ministry office in Dhaka.
"The repatriation process cannot be completed in a fixed time frame," he said at the press conference organised to brief on the bilateral instrument signed by the two countries on Thursday.
Both Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to take help from UNHCR in the repatriation process, he said.
Myanmar, as per it necessity, will involve UNHCR in the repatriation process in appropriate time, the foreign minister added.
According to the deal, there is also a scope for UN agencies and international community to get involved in the repatriation process, he added.
If any complication arises, both Bangladesh and Myanmar will fix those through discussions, he said.
A Joint Working Group will be established within three weeks of signing the arrangement, he said.
The Bangladesh neighbour will take back its national who were displaced since October 9, 2016, after it completes the repatriation of the Rohingyas recently crossed the border, he said.
So far, 6,22,000 Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh after violence erupted in Myanmar Aug 25, the minister.
Bangladesh claims to shelter three to five lakh Rohingyas in the Oct 9, 2016 influx, he added.
Mahmood Ali and Myanmar Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe signed the instrument at the State Counsellor's Office in Naypyitaw of Myanmar on Thursday.
Journalists were given copy of the Thursday's deal during the briefing.
Rohingyas to stay in makeshift camps in Myanamr
The Myanmar authorities will keep the Rohingyas in temporary camps near to their abandoned homes after they returned to their country, the foreign minister said at the briefing.
Bangladesh suggested Myanmar to take help from India and China on building the makeshift camps for Rohingyas as the two countries have experience on it, he said.
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