Bangladesh targets 100,000 for first Rohingya repatriation

Dhaka, January 1: Bangladesh government has said, it wants to send up to 1 lakh Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar in the first batch of repatriations of refugees who fled ethnic violence this year.

He said based on the decision of the joint working group, a first list of 1 lakh Rohingya will be sent to the Myanmar government for their safe and honourable return.

Quader said repatriations would start as soon as a working group of officials from the two countries finalise a list of names.

"The next meeting of the working group, which will be held in Myanmar, will decide how the repatriation process begins," Quader added.

"This list will be finalized as early as possible. The repatriation process will begin after the list is finalized."

Abul Kalam Azad, the government relief commissioner for Rohingya refugees, said a decision was made Thursday by Bangladeshi members of the repatriation working group to send a list of 100,000 refugees to Myanmar.

More than 655,000 Rohingya from Myanmar's Rakhine state had sought refuge in Bangladesh since a military crackdown in late August. The two governments signed an agreement in November allowing for repatriations from January 23rd.