Narinjara News


Bangladesh Govt hopes completion of repatriation of Burma refugees soon

Dhaka, 4^th July 03:The Bangladesh government is hopeful that the process of repatriation of the Burmese refugees will complete in a foreseeable future, Foreign Secretary Shamsher M Chowdhury told a regular weekly briefing at his office yesterday, According to today’s the independent quoted to BSS report.

“ We are in constant touch with the Burma military authorities through the UNHCR in this regard,” he said.

Meanwhile, attention of the government has been drawn to news items published in national and international press and media on the question of repatriation of the remaining Burma refugees.

A press release issued by the foreign Office today said that about 250,877 people from Burma’s Northern Rakhine state crossed border to take refugee in Bangladesh during 1991-1992. Till June 29 this year, 234,581 refugees were repatriated to Burma in close cooperation between the two countries and with the assistance of the UNHCR.

However, 8,212(2,936 with confirmation/ re-confirmation of clearance by Burma and 5276 pending confirmation/re-confirmation of clearance) are awaiting repatriation to Burma. “ The number has come down with about 500 cases cleared on July 2 last and they will go back home once clearance is given by the Burma military authorities”, it said.

The Bangladesh government expects that the remaining 12,575 refugees will also sign affidavit expressing their willingness to go back to their own country by following the example of their fellow countrymen.

About 93 per cent of the refugees have returned and been rehabilitated in their country with no complain reported so far from them. This clearly indicates the existence of an environment conducive to the return of the remaining refugees, the press release said.

“ In view of the excellent level of cooperation between the government of Bangladesh and the government of Burma, it is hoped that the repatriation process will be concluded with the return of all the remaining refugees to their country,” it said. #