Naypyidaw: Myanmar has, for the first time, acknowledged that nearly 309,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine state, saying they would be allowed to return once security conditions improve in the conflict-hit region, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. According to Nam News Network, the Foreign Ministry stated that 308,975 displaced people had been verified as former residents of Rakhine, marking a significant development in long-running efforts to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh. Myanmar will receive the displaced persons who have been verified as former residents of Rakhine State when the security situation in Rakhine State becomes more stable, the ministry said. Several attempts by Bangladesh and Myanmar to begin repatriation have failed, with no large-scale returns taking place amid concerns over security, citizenship, and basic rights. The process has been further complicated by fighting between Myanmar's military and the Arakan Army, which has seized control of la rge parts of Rakhine. Bangladesh has maintained that repatriation must be voluntary, safe, and sustainable, while Rohingya refugees have demanded guarantees of citizenship, security, and fundamental rights before returning.
