Burma on Saturday agreed to take
back within a short time around 9,000 'verified' Rohingya refugees- less than
one third of its 28,000 nationals staying in two camps in Cox's Bazar as
registered refugees.
The assurance came when visiting deputy foreign minister of Myanmar Maung Myint
held talks with foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes at the foreign ministry on
Tuesday. But Burmadid not set any date
for the repatriation of the Rohingyas and it did not give any assurance for
taking back the remaining Rohingya refugees registered by the UNHCR.
However, briefing newsmen on the outcome of the fourth Foreign Secretary level
consultations, Mijarul Quayes hoped that the remaining refugees would also be
sent back when their nationality would be verified by the Burmese authorities.
The Burmese deputy foreign
minister led a five-member delegation of his country in two-day foreign
secretary-level talks that began yesterday morning. Bangladesh's ambassador to Burma
Anup Kumar Chakma and Burmese ambassador to Bangladesh U Phaenn Oo were present
at the meeting, among others.
Quayes, who visited the Naoapara and Kutupalong camps on Saturday to see the
situation, said that apart from 28,000 registered refugees, many Mynamar
nationals were staying in makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar as unregistered
refugees.
The foreign secretary said that the number of Myanmar refugees was increasing
day by day in that area and the Bangladesh government though that they were
crossing the border for economic reasons.