GOB, UNHCR ready to start repatriation of Rohingyas Aug 22

The government and the UNHCR have taken all necessary steps to begin repatriation of Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar's Rakhine State on August 22, an official said on Monday.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner's (RRRC) office and the UN refugee agency are looking into various aspects of preparation including safety measures. 

Myanmar has cleared a list of 3999 Rohingyas of 1038 families for first phase repatriation. 

UNHCR will start interviewing Rohingyas of the list cleared by Myanmar from Tuesday to know whether they are willing to go back to Rakhine.

Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered the country since August 25, 2017. 

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.

On January 16, 2018 Bangladesh and Myanmar inked a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.

The “Physical Arrangement” stipulates that the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years from the start.

The first batch of Rohingyas was scheduled to return on November 15 last year but it was halted amid unwillingness of Rohingyas to go back for lack of a congenial environment in Rakhine.