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17,129 Rohingyas repatriated so far, JS told

By Staff Correspondent
Foreign Minister ASM Mus taflzur Rahman told Parliament yesterday that the government had succeeded in "ensuring the right to life and property" of the returning Rohingya refugees, during a series of meetings with the Myanmar side.
Replying to a question from Awami league member Mirza Azam, he said that as of January 29. a total of 17.129 refugees had been repatriated and that another 2,33,748 refugees were tn the camps.
He added that 13 regular meetings had so far been held with the Myanmar side.
Through the dialogues at these meetings, the minister said, the government was able to ensure "recognition of the full religious rights of the Rakhaln Muslims Including the right to'broadcast azan (call for prayer) through loudspeakers.*
The 10-point assurances received from the Myanmar side as listed by the Foreign Minister also include return of the homesteads and jobs of the repatriated refugees, right of the refugees for unrestricted travel in Rakhaln province and allowing the boatmen or headmen living in the camps to go and observe the situation across the border.
Terming these assurances as a 'success'. Rahman said that designated and alternate officials of the government could also, from time to time, visit the homesteads of the repatriated refugees and inspect the transit camps across the border
He noted that the Rakhain Muslim had also been exempted from forced labour. This is particularly Important because all other national entities still have to provide compulsory labour*
The repatriated refugees will be able to apply for the Myanmar nationality card immediately he said, and not only that 'the repatriated Myanmar citizens are getting the nationality cards quickly and in the meantime a number of the repatriated refugees, carrying the nationality card and the passport of Myanmar, came to Bangladesh and took the rest of their family members and relatives home.*
Furthermore, the minister said, from now on the Muslims will not have to bow their heads to show respect to the national flag as per existing laws of Myanmar.
Rahman added that upto January 29, the government had handed over a list of 2,46,966 refugees to the
Myanmar government and soon the list of 3,911 more refugees would be handed over. . _
The Myanmar side has ap proved 85,877 refugees from the lists so far and the government was repeatedly demanding approval of the rest of the names he said adding "as a result, it is learnt, the concerned Myanmar authorities have employed additional manpower.'
Replying to a supplementary question, the minister noted that on Monday another 941 refugees of 204 families returned under UNHCR supervision.
"If sending more than 18,000 refugees back home In such a short time IS considered a failure, then I have nothing to say,* he added in response to the opposition members' criticism that the government had failed in handling the refugee situation.
He pointed out that it took the refugees nine years to return to Afghanistan while those in Palestine and Cambodia were yet to return.
To which, JSD member Shahjahan Slraj asked the minister how long it took the refugees to return to Bangladesh from India in 1971.
The minister replied that as Bangladesh became independent the refugees could return quickly.
Replying to another supplementary question, Rahman said that he would make a detailed statement, oh the recent controversy relating to the statements of UNHCR and the US State Department and his recent visit to the United States, as per the schedule, today.