180 Myanmar Army and BGP, 170 Bangladeshis to be returned

Following diplomatic deliberations, the Myanmar government has consented to their repatriation. The proposed method of return is via the sea route, contingent upon favorable weather conditions.

Staff Reporter

Apr 3, 2024, 09:20 AM2 min read

180 Myanmar Army and BGP, 170 Bangladeshis to be returned

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Foreign Minister Of Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Mahmud unveiled a pivotal development, shedding light on ongoing efforts to facilitate the repatriation of individuals captured in the cross-border conflict between Myanmar and Bangladesh. At the heart of the matter are 180 members of Myanmar’s army and border guard police (BGP) who sought sanctuary within Bangladesh, alongside 170 Bangladeshi nationals currently stranded in Myanmar.

The situation started when three army troops and 177 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) fled to Bangladesh. Following diplomatic deliberations, the Myanmar government has consented to their repatriation. The proposed method of return is via the sea route, contingent upon favorable weather conditions. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud stated, “They proposed the sea route (for sending them back). We wanted to send them back this week, but as the sea is not favourable, they will be sent next week or as soon as the sea becomes calm.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is using several channels to try to free 170 of its nationals who are being held in Myanmar. The Myanmar government has responded positively, which is encouraging as it shows that, they are eager to work together to resolve this humanitarian issue.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud expressed hope for the Joint Response Plan (JRP), which was formed on March 13 to address the Rohingya situation in Geneva. Compared to prior years, he said that Bangladesh's requested financing and collaboration received a more positive reception. Notably, the active participation of the foreign secretary and the principal secretary to the prime minister in the JRP meeting underscored Bangladesh’s unwavering commitment to addressing the crisis.

Prior to this revelation, Lord Jeremy Purvis, the UK Liberal Democrat Party’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, engaged in discussions with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud. The discourse centered on mutual interests, including the UK’s sustained cooperation in Bangladesh’s developmental endeavors and its assistance in addressing the Rohingya crisis.

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