Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to supporting Myanmar in the aftermath of the recent earthquake that left over 33 thousand people killed and many more wounded.
During a meeting with Myanmar Prime Minister and military leader Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Friday, Yunus expressed further humanitarian support.
Offering condolences for the tragic loss of life due to the 28 March earthquake, CA Yunus assured, “We remain ready to provide further humanitarian support.
Our ships are ready.” Focusing on continued disaster relief cooperation and strengthening regional humanitarian
ties, the two leaders discussed the deployment of Bangladeshi rescue teams to Myanmar as part of the relief efforts.
Myanmar’s Prime Minister Aung Hlaing expressed appreciation and congratulated Yunus on assuming the BIMSTEC chairmanship, expressing hope that Bangladesh’s leadership would inject new momentum into the regional grouping.
Meanwhile, in a significant diplomatic development related to the Rohingya crisis, Myanmar authorities have confirmed the identification of 180,000 Rohingya refugees—out of the 800,000 sheltered in Bangladesh—as eligible for repatriation.
This verified list, representing the first batch cleared for return, marks a crucial step towards resolving the protracted refugee crisis since 2017.
The initial list of potential returnees was provided by Bangladesh in six batches between 2018 and 2020.
Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Shew confirmed the development during a meeting with Dr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative to the CA of Bangladesh, also held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit on Friday.
The verification process for an additional 70,000 Rohingyas is currently underway, with photographs and personal details being cross-checked.
Myanmar has also pledged to expedite verification of the remaining 550,000 Rohingyas on the original list.
This progress signals a hopeful turn in addressing one of the most pressing humanitarian issues in South Asia.
The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 when a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State forced over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh. Widespread atrocities, including killings and the burning of villages, led the UN to label it a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”
Since then, the refugees have lived in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar. Despite a 2018 repatriation agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh, progress has been slow due to concerns over safety, citizenship, and lack of international guarantees.
Now, Myanmar has confirmed 180,000 Rohingyas as eligible for repatriation—marking the first verified group from the list of over 800,000 provided by Bangladesh. Verification of 70,000 more is ongoing, and Myanmar has pledged to expedite checks for the remaining 550,000.
While this is seen as a step forward, the international community emphasises that any return must be voluntary, safe, and dignified.
