Rohingya repatriation: Myanmar responds positively

Staff Reporter :

Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe has responded positively regarding the repatriation of Rohingyas, announced Dr. Hasan Mahmud during a sideline meeting with the Myanmar delegation at the second retreat of BIMSTEC foreign ministers in New Delhi on Friday.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud recalled Myanmar’s long-standing claim of willingness to accept Rohingyas forcibly displaced to Bangladesh, highlighting the lack of visible progress in fulfilling this commitment. “Myanmar’s commitment will be demonstrated through concrete actions in initiating the repatriation process,” Hasan Mahmud emphasized.
In response, Minister Than Swe acknowledged these concerns and expressed his intention to expedite discussions within his government to facilitate the repatriation process.

During the retreat’s final day, the foreign ministers also had a courtesy meeting with India’s Prime Minister at his residence in New Delhi. The meeting included foreign ministers and foreign secretaries from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in cordial discussions and participated in a photo session with the delegates.

Throughout the retreat, the foreign ministers deliberated on enhancing the BIMSTEC process, focusing on regional cooperation across various sectors. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud underscored Bangladesh’s proactive role within the conference and engaged in bilateral discussions with India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar. They discussed mutual interests, including the continuation of essential commodity imports and plans to dispatch a technical team for the Teesta project.