After a long gap, formal talks with Myanmar on repatriation of Rohingya refugees may resume this year, top officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.
The last of such talks took place in January last year, but communications between the two countries on the repatriation issue halted since then due to the Covid pandemic and military coup in Myanmar.
The MoFA high-ups told the FE that recently an informal discussion was held between the two countries on resuming the talks.
"They have agreed to sit again, and we are waiting for a date (from them)," a senior official said.
Asked about the development, Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen admitted that a discussion was held on resuming the repatriation negotiation. "I believe that the formal talks on repatriation will restart this year."
In this connection, the minister also mentioned that the Myanmar foreign minister recently sent him greetings.
"This is a positive development. It seems that the present regime wants to have a close tie with us."
He also pointed out that Rohingya repatriation is a priority issue for Bangladesh, and Myanmar has to take back the Rohingyas - as they are Myanmar's citizens.
In May last year, the Chinese foreign minister, in a telephonic conversation with the Bangladesh foreign minister, assured of Chinese efforts to establish a contact with Myanmar's military rulers to resume negotiation.
The Chinese Embassy officials said the domestic situation in Myanmar was not conducive for a long time to hold such talks.
China has been mediating negotiation between Bangladesh and Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation issue since 2019, following the influx of nearly one million Rohingyas to Bangladesh in the face of crackdown by Myanmar army.
