KISSAPA- Even though Myanmar is now ready to hand over 14 boat people to Bangladesh, the Bangladesh government has yet to take back its citizens, according to the Immigration Department in Maungdaw District.

 “We are now ready to hand over a total of 14 Bangladeshis to their country. As the boat peoples aren’t prisoners, we wanted to pass them on back to their own country if Bangladesh was fine with it. But, they[Bangladesh] can’t repatriate them. We informed them[Bangladesh] by sending several letters. We have to be handing them over in accordance with the bilateral agreement. 12 Bangladesh citizens out of 14 came ashore at Yathedaung Township. The remaining two out of other five people were arrested in Kyaukpandu Beach. The three were locals from Maungdaw Township. So, they were sent to their native land through the UEHRD plan. Now, we are waiting on permission to hand over the 14 boat people to Bangladesh,” said unidentified official from Immigration Department. 

Myanmar already sent the data of 14 Bangladesh citizens to their country while the Bangladesh government had also confirmed that they indeed were Bangladesh citizens.

On June 27th and 28th, a team led by Md Shan Alom Khokon, Embassy head and Bangladesh Consul from Sittwe arrived in Maungdaw Township and they met with 12 boat peoples at the Police Office in Maungdaw District and made the records.

In the morning of June 11th, totaling 104 Bengalis  - 44 males and 60 females were found to have landed with a damaged boat at the shore line near Tharsi village, at the mouth of Aungbala creek in Yathedaung Township.

Later, officials sent them[boat peoples] to the re-acceptance camp in Ngakhuya Township. Among the boat peoples, 12 were Bangladesh citizens and the remaining 92 were found to be Bengalis from Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships.

92 Bengalis were sent to their native villages on June 15th and 12 Bangladesh citizens were put through the diplomatic processes to send them home.

Likewise,  Myanmar Navy rescued totaling 228 boat peoples at the sea near Thinbawgwe village, Maungdaw Township, on May 21st of 2015. Among them, 208 were Bangladesh citizens. So, Myanmar authorities presented humanitarian aids and handed over them to their country[Bangladesh].

Moreover, totaling 734 boat peoples were found at the sea, south-east from Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Region on May 29th of 2015 and they were also handed over to the Bangladesh.