AGARTALA. Mar 2: A Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and Chairman of National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Abul Hasnat Abdullah said the repatriation of the tribal people who had taken shelter in the Indian State of Tripura would begin soon, reports BSS.

Abdullah held a meeting with the leaders of the tribal refugees at the Circuit House here on Saturday.

After the three-hour-long meeting, the Chief Whip observed that both the sides reached consensus on all the matters that came up for dis-

cussions. He said he had proposed to the committee to en-nance certain facilities in addition to the 20-point package programme of the government in the light of demand, submitted by Chief of the Hill Refugee Welfare Samity Upendra Lal Chakma.

Abdullah said the national committee will consider the proposals subject to discussions with the government.

Official sources said the refugees had responded positively to return to their homeland when they would be given assurance of security. The Indian government had also as-

sured to extend all possible assistance and cooperation for the repatriation of refugees, the sources added.

The Bangladesh delegation at the end of their four-day visit to Tripura today visited Kathalcnari refugee camp.

The delegation Included Mayor of Chittagong ABM Mo-hiuddin Chowdhury, Kalpa Ranjan Chakma, MP. Dipankar Talukder. MP. Bir Bahadur. MP. Advocate Fazle Rabbi, MP, Awami League leader Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser and Secretary, Special Affairs Division. Kazi Golam Rahman.

Meanwhile. Chittagong city Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who returned home from Tripura Saturday night told BSS this morning that the tribal refugees are eager to return to their homes and the repatriation process is likely to resume this month.

He said most of the refugees expressed their willingness to return to their homeland.