Myanmar to verify 550,000 Rohingyas
Staff Reporter :
In a potentially significant development toward resolving the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis, Myanmar has agreed to begin verifying the identities of over half a million Rohingyas currently sheltering in Bangladesh, according to a senior official of the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
Dr Khalilur Rahman, High Representative to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, announced the development during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The announcement followed his bilateral meeting with Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, U Than Shwe, held on the sidelines of the recently concluded sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Dr Khalilur stated that Myanmar had confirmed its commitment to initiating the verification of approximately 550,000 Rohingyas – describing the move as “a significant development” in efforts to begin the long-delayed repatriation process of the persecuted minority to their homeland in Rakhine State.
“This is an important step forward,” said Dr Khalilur, emphasising that identity verification is a critical prerequisite for any credible repatriation. “They have already verified 180,000 individuals out of 250,000 considered eligible for return,” he added.
Nonetheless, unresolved complications persist. Notably, discrepancies remain involving the names and photographs of around 70,000 individuals-an issue both countries have agreed to continue discussing.
Between 2018 and 2020, Bangladesh submitted a list of 800,000 Rohingyas to Myanmar in six separate batches for repatriation. While progress has been intermittent and slow, the latest announcement suggests renewed diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Naypyidaw on a matter that has strained bilateral relations and attracted global concern.
More than 700,000 Rohingyas fled Myanmar in 2017 following a brutal military crackdown, which the United Nations has characterised as bearing the “hallmarks of genocide.” The majority sought refuge in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district, where they remain stateless and in limbo.
During the briefing, Dr Khalilur also addressed broader outcomes of the sixth BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, has been elected to chair the regional organisation for the next two years – a development Dhaka views as an opportunity to elevate its leadership in regional affairs.
With the BIMSTEC Secretariat located in Dhaka, Dr Khalilur expressed optimism regarding deeper collaboration among member states. “We hope that we will be able to work together,” he stated.
Although the long-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among BIMSTEC nations remains elusive, the summit did produce one concrete outcome: the signing of a maritime transport cooperation agreement. Officials are hopeful that the accord will improve regional connectivity through enhanced coordination in port management, trade logistics, and infrastructure development.
“Connectivity will be improved, and regional cooperation will be strengthened,” Dr Khalilur remarked.
As Myanmar prepares to verify the remaining names on Bangladesh’s list, questions persist over the conditions under which repatriation might occur, particularly in relation to safety guarantees, the restoration of citizenship rights, and access to essential services.
Nevertheless, Myanmar’s pledge to verify the identities of 550,000 Rohingyas offers a cautious but hopeful sign of progress in addressing one of the world’s most protracted and complex refugee crises.