Bangladesh has reached an agreement to extend the validity of passports for around 69,000 Rohingya individuals from Myanmar who have resided in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s.

The disclosure came from Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal following a meeting with Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.

"After Bangladesh gained independence, some Rohingya migrated to Saudi Arabia. Although the exact number is unknown, Saudi authorities have informed us that it's approximately 69,000," Asaduzzaman stated.

"These individuals travelled using Bangladeshi passports. We will be renewing their passports without altering their names or addresses," he added.

While Saudi Arabia repatriates migrants lacking valid documentation to their home nations, Myanmar does not recognize Rohingya individuals as citizens, despite being their place of origin.

The Rohingya crisis escalated in 2017 when over a million refugees fled to Bangladeshi camps following a violent military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, characterized as having "genocidal intent."

Nasser previously visited Bangladesh in November 2022 to request passport renewals for Rohingya who have held Bangladeshi passports for decades while residing in Saudi Arabia to escape persecution in their homeland. Subsequently, a joint working group was established to address this issue.

The recent visit by Nasser aimed to address any delays or complications Bangladesh might be experiencing regarding the matter, according to the home minister. Additionally, discussions included matters concerning Bangladeshi residents in Saudi Arabia, where approximately 2.28 million Bangladesh nationals are employed, constituting the largest Bangladeshi diaspora abroad.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia proposed a prisoner exchange agreement, to which Bangladesh expressed no objections, viewing it as potentially advantageous.

The discussions also encompassed enhancing cooperation to bolster the capabilities of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh, and the Coast Guard.

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