Photo: Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar A Myanmar Navy ship carrying 173 Bangladesh nationals, who
were detained in that country for different offences, left for Bangladesh on
Tuesday and is expected to arrive on Wednesday.
The ship carrying Bangladeshis is coming to Bangladesh to
bring back members of Myanmar defence force who were forced to cross the border
into Bangladesh due to conflict in Rakhine State, according to a press release
issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar.
The ship is expected to reach the Bangladesh territory by
tomorrow and handover of the Bangladeshi citizens to the relevant authorities
of Bangladesh will take place at that time. Out of the 173 persons, 129 are
from Cox’s Bazar district, 30 are from Bandarban district, 7 are from Rangamati
district, 1 each from Khagrachari district, Noakhali district, Narayanganj district,
Chattogram district, Rajbari district, Narshingdi district and Nilphamari district.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon, upon
receipt of the information of the tentative visit of the Myanmar ship to
Bangladesh, took up the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of Home Affairs of Bangladesh and relevant Myanmar authorities to seize the
opportunity to send back the maximum number of verified Bangladeshi nationals
who were in different prisons of Myanmar. The Embassy also pursued the relevant
host authorities to bring the 144 ‘verified and jail term completed or
pardoned’ returnees in Sittwe prison for smooth return and pursued for
releasing the 29 verified Bangladeshi nationals who were still serving their
jail terms/under trial. Pursuant to the mission’s efforts the 29 persons were
pardoned and sent back to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate in
Sittwe have been working steadfastly for this return since the last return of
Bangladeshi citizens that took place on 03 October 2023 when 29 Bangladeshis
returned home through a flag meeting. Representatives of Bangladesh Embassy in
Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate, Sittwe were present to coordinate with the
local authorities, conduct verification process and issue travel permits in
favour of the returnees.
