Staff Reporter :
Amid the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar, 134 Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) and other personnel were returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh on Sunday.
Concurrently, 45 Bangladeshi citizens imprisoned in the Rakhine State of Myanmar were repatriated after their citizenship verification was completed, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Myanmar vessel UMS Chin Dwin transported the 45 Bangladeshis from Sitwe Port on Saturday, arriving at Cox’s Bazar BIWTA Ghat. On the return trip, the same ship carried the 134 Myanmar soldiers and personnel back to Myanmar, the ministry stated.
The process was completed under the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Coordinating efforts between the Myanmar Wing, officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon, and the Bangladesh Consulate in Sitwe, local authorities conducted interviews and verifications, subsequently issuing travel permits.
Mainul Kabir, Director-General of the Myanmar Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that he personally went to the ship to welcome the returning Bangladeshis.
The successful completion of immigration, health check-ups, and other procedures, along with the repatriation of the Myanmar soldiers, was facilitated by the collaboration of various agencies including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, District Administration, District Police, and other relevant authorities.
With the comprehensive assistance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the identification and necessary documentation process of the Myanmar BGP and other members seeking refuge in Bangladesh were completed promptly.
It is noteworthy that in the current year, arrangements had been made for the shelter and repatriation of a total of 752 members of the Myanmar BGP and others based on humanitarian considerations as they could not resist the insurgents in their internal fighting.
On the hand, earlier this year, a total of 218 Bangladeshis nationals, including 173 from Myanmar who returned on April 24, were brought back home.