One hundred and seventy-three Bangladeshi nationals who were imprisoned in Rakhine, Myanmar, and whose citizenship were verified, returned to Bangladesh from Myanmar by sea on Wednesday.
In addition, the repatriation of 288 Myanmar BGP, army members , immigration officials and others who have taken shelter in Bangladesh in the context of the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar will be completed on April 25 and 26, according to a press release.
The repatriation process of the Myanmar nationals has been organised at BIWTA Ghat in Cox's Bazar.
Myanmar ship Chin Duin carrying the returning Bangladeshi citizens has arrived in Bangladesh and will leave Bangladesh carrying the Myanmar’s BGP, military and others.
MP of Cox's Bazar Sadar Shaimum Sarwar Kamal was present at the Jetty Ghat to welcome the returning Bangladeshi citizens.
Out of the 173 people, 129 are from Cox's Bazar, 30 are from Bandarban, seven are from Rangamati, one each from Khagrachari, Noakhali, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Rajbari, Narshingdi and Nilphamari.
The Bangladesh embassy in Yangon, upon learning of the tentative visit of the Myanmar ship to Bangladesh, took up the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh and relevant Myanmar authorities to seize the opportunity to send back the maximum number of verified Bangladeshi Nationals who were in different prisons of Myanmar.
The embassy also pursued the relevant host authorities to bring the 144 "verified and jail term completed or pardoned" returnees in Sittwe prison for smooth return and pursued for releasing the 29 verified Bangladeshi nationals who were still serving their jail terms or under trial. Pursuant to the mission's efforts, the 29 persons were pardoned and sent back to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh consulate in Sittwe have been working for this return since the last return of Bangladeshi citizens that took place on October 3 last year when 29 Bangladeshis returned home through a flag meeting.
Representatives of the Bangladesh embassy in Yangon and consulate in Sittwe were physically present to coordinate with the local authorities, conduct verification process and issue travel permits in favour of the returnees.
The necessary activities for the arrival of Bangladeshi citizens by ship, including immigration, health checks and other related activities, and for the dispatch of Myanmar military and other members have
been carried out with the assistance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB, Coast Guard, district administration, district police,civil surgeon and other authorities.
After completing the necessary formalities, the Bangladeshi citizens will be handed over to their relatives.