BSS-51 Foreign Secretary optimistic of Rohingya repatriation

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ZCZC

BSS-51

ROHINGYA-FOREIGN-SECRETARY

Foreign Secretary optimistic of Rohingya repatriation

DHAKA, August 13, 2018 (BSS) – Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque here today expressed his optimism about the repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people to their homeland in Myanmar.

“We are always optimistic about the repatriation… But it could be said right now about the exact timeframe of the repatriation process,” he said while replying to a query of the journalists on Center for Genocide Studies premises of Dhaka University after his visit to Rakhine State.

About the four-day visit, he said, “You know that Joint Working Group (JWG) led by Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali visited Myanmar and Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar U Kyaw Tint Swe was with us. We had very cordial discussion in a good environment. Next day they took us to Northern Rakhine-especially the nearby areas of Mongdu and Sittew.”

Replying to a query, he said, “I would say that at least one thing has been done. They have shown us that they have done something in this regard.”

Asked when the first group of Rohingyas could be repatriated, Shahidul Haque said, “Such kind of repatriation process is always complex and time-oriented… It cannot be done overnight”.

The foreign secretary said, “All the locals as well as government officials in Myanmar have said that they want to take Rohingyas back home.”

BSS/MMN/KU/2050 HRS