Dhaka became ‘cautiously optimistic’ to start much-demanded Rohingya repatriation from second quarter of this year.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen came the remark after a tri-parties meeting on Tuesday.
Naypyidaw showed its flexibility to take back their nationals at today’s tripartite meeting among Bangladesh, China and Myanmar over the crisis.
“In diplomatic language, I can say – we are ‘cautiously optimistic’ (of starting repatriation by 2nd quarter of this year) … we are sincerely engaged so that, at least, we can start the (repatriation) process,” secretary Masud said.
The senior secretary, who led the Bangladesh delegation, was speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry after the 90-minute virtual tripartite meeting this afternoon.
Chinese vice minister Luo Zhaohui and Myanmar Deputy Minister of International Cooperation Hau Do Suan led the delegations of their respective countries at the meeting.
The first tripartite meeting among the foreign ministers of Bangladesh, China and Myanmar was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in 2019 while the last official level tripartite meeting on January last year.
The foreign secretary said Dhaka today first proposed starting the repatriation in the first quarter, but Myanmar said logistical arrangement would take some more time.
