The process to send back the 330 border guards and army personnel from Myanmar who had fled to Bangladesh amidst an ongoing conflict in their country commenced on Thursday morning.
A ship with 165 security personnel left for Myanmar in the morning and another ship has been prepared to pick up the remaining 165.
Among the 330 who entered Bangladesh, there are 302 BGP members, four family members of the BGP members and four non-military citizens.
Earlier, a delegation from Myanmar, led by Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe, arrived at the Naval jetty ghat in Inani, Cox’s Bazar district, on Thursday, aboard a speedboat at 9:50am.
The group had crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing clashes between the Myanmar military and armed rebel groups.
A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) team, led by its chief, Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, was meeting with Myanmar’s Border Guard Police delegation, BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam said.
“All preparations are complete. BGP members from Ghumdum in Naikhongchhari and Hnila in Teknaf have been brought to an area near the navy jetty ghat in Inani,” he added.
Meanwhile, BGB Director General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui told reporters that a seven-member repatriation committee was formed under the leadership of Ramu BGB Sector Commander Colonel Mehedi Hossain Kabir as per the decision of the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 11.
The committee completed the repatriation process of BGP members by contacting and coordinating with the Myanmar authorities.
The rebel group Arakan Army recently captured a town in Rakhine State, which led to intense fighting in nearby areas.
The 330 individuals came to Bangladesh between February 4 and 7, prompting discussion between the two countries on their return. Bangladesh also provided treatment to the injured.
The BGB outlined the handover process, involving a Myanmar Navy ship anchoring near Bangladesh's border and a Bangladeshi tourist ship facilitating the personnel's transfer.
