Bangladesh prepares first batch of 100,000 Rohingyas for repatriation

Bangladesh, Dec 29: According to the agreement signed by Bangladesh and Myanmar government in November for allowing the repatriation of Rohingyas from January 27, Bangladesh has prepared first batch of Rohingyas.

The first batch has up to 100,000 Rohingya who would be sent back to Myanmar.

Senior minister Obaidul Quader said a list of 100,000 names was to be sent to Myanmar authorities on Friday so repatriations could start in late January under an accord between the two governments.

More than 655,000 Rohingya from Myanmar's Rakhine state have sought refuge in Bangladesh since a military crackdown in late August, fleeing what the US and United Nations have described as ethnic cleansing.

That added to more than 300,000 in camps in Bangladesh after fleeing earlier violence in the Buddhist majority state.

Many aid groups and diplomats doubt that fearful Rohingya will agree to return as they were subjected to violence and ethnic cleansing by Myanmar security forces.