Repatriation Process: 5thMeeting of Myanmar-Bangladesh Joint Working Group

The Fifth Meeting of Myanmar-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on the repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine State was held on 14 June.

The Meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Chan Aye and Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Mr. Masud Bin Momen. The two sides exchanged views on the status of verification for the displaced persons and difficulties encountered during the verification process, preparation works done prior to the commencement of the repatriation of the verified displaced persons, resettlement plans for the prospective returnees as well as trust and confidence building measures before their voluntary return.

The two sides also deliberated on repatriating the displaced persons from Rakhine State in accordance with the bilateral agreements signed between the two countries as well as with the health protocol on prevention, control and treatment of the COVID-19issued by the Ministry of Health, and resolving matters related to verification through the existing bilateral mechanism: the Ad-Hoc Task Force for Verification of the Displaced Persons from Rakhine State.

The Myanmar delegation also apprised the meeting on the efforts undertaken by the Government to ensure the prevalence of security and rules of law in Rakhine State, renovation works of the reception centers, the transit camp and houses, preparations and arrangements made for the livelihood, health and education basic services for the prospective returnees, and cooperation with the international development partners, ASEAN and the UN agencies in creating conducive environment in the process of resettlement of the displaced persons from Rakhine State.