The process of Rohingya repatriation faces fresh complexities as many of the Rohingyas, scheduled to be sent back to their homeland, seemed to be unwilling to go back, fearing fresh persecution.
The repatriation process is set to start on November 15.
"The UNHRC started the process to seek consent of the Rohingya from today (Tuesday). We are expecting that they will finish the process tomorrow (Wednesday)," Chairman of the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC) Muhammad Abul Kalam told the FE on Tuesday.
He said they were taking preparations to start repatriation on November 15. "But I do not know what we will do if the UNHRC cannot complete the process by tomorrow," Mr Kalam said.
However, foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque told the media on Tuesday that if there would be any complexities, the repatriation date can be deferred.
"If the Rohingyas don't want to go, we have nothing to do. I always say repatriation is a lengthy process."
But he said Bangladesh is hopeful about the repatriation. "Let's see what happens," Mr Haque told reporters after attending a workshop on the 4th Industrial Revolution at a city hotel.
Mr Haque also said Bangladesh and Myanmar set the date of repatriation and both the countries are "working as per the schedule".
According to sources concerned, many Rohingyas who have been scheduled to be repatriated by both the governments disappeared from their designated camps to skip the repatriation.
They fear that they would face fresh repression if they were sent back to Myanmar.
But the foreign secretary said he had no such information.
Myanmar had initially verified 2,261 Rohingyas for their return in the first batch when the repatriation was set to begin on Thursday.
The secretary said they were informing the listed Rohingyas at their camps in Cox's Bazar about their repatriation.
