More than 100 migrants who were rescued from a boat near Myanmar’s coast while being trafficked to Malaysia are returning home.
Myanmar Border Police handed 150 identified Bangladesh citizens over to Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) after a flag meeting at Bangladesh’s Ghumdhum and Myanmar’s Dhekibania border on Monday.
The first group, consisting of 30 people, crossed the Bangladesh Myanmar Friendship Bridge at Ghumdhum to enter the country at 1:53pm.
BGB officials say others will soon follow.
The foreign ministry said the process was a clear manifestation of the government’s seriousness to repatriate them as rapidly as possible.
A 10-strong representative team headed by BGB Battalion-7 Chief Lt Col Khandaker Saiful Alam attended the meeting.
Police, immigration, home ministry and foreign ministry officers are also on the team.
On the Myanmar side, BGP, National Registration Department and local administration officials were present.
Cox’s Bazar BGB Sector Commander Col Md Khalekuzzaman toldbdnews24.com on May 21, 208 people were rescued from a boat near Myanmar coast.
But it was claimed by the Myanmar officials that 200 of them were Bangladeshis.
Bangladesh team had postponed their visit to Myanmar since the list of rescued Bangladeshis that Myanmar authorities sent appeared ‘confusing’ and ‘incomplete’.
Later, a request was made to the BGP to provide a complete list of Bangladeshis.
Following the request, Myanmar sent a list of 200 people. After verification, BGB has identified 150 people as Bangladeshis.
The 150 were returned on Monday and initially kept in Naikkhanchharhi Ghumdhum High School.
They will be handed over to police for questioning.
Myanmar Navy on May 29 rescued another migrant ship, this time with 727 on board. They claimed there were Bangladeshis there as well.
Khalekuzzaman said the foreign ministries of the two countries were discussing the issue.
Source: Bd news24
