Deal on 'physical arrangement' likely at JWG meet on Jan15

Bangladesh and Myanmar are likely to finalise an agreement on 'physical arrangement' on January 15 to start the repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.
The two countries will hold the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) in Myanmar's capital on January 15 to finalise the agreement, said a diplomatic source. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque will lead the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.
The agreed Terms of Reference reportedly mandates the JWG to undertake all necessary measures to start safe and voluntary return, resettlement and reintegration process of displaced Myanmar residents, as envisaged in the "Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State"  signed by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and U Kyaw Tint Swe, union minister for the Office of the State Counsellor, on November 23
Over 600,000 Rohingya refugees have reportedly fled to Bangladesh since August 25 following fresh violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Despite challenges, Bangladesh and Myanmar remain optimistic to start the repatriation of Rohingyas by January following the ongoing negotiations with Myanmar bilaterally.
Earlier, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said they are on track in terms of timeframe mentioned in the bilateral document signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23.
"We're all upbeat. We're confident and we're hopeful. We're bilaterally engaged (with Myanmar)," he said describing the international support that Bangladesh gained on the issue.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader recently mentioned about handing a list of 100,000 Rohingyas to Myanmar for sending them back to Myanmar.
Quoting Myanmar Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, Myanmar media reported that they would start repatriating those families who fled from Rakhine State to Bangladesh on January 22.
Win Myat Aye said a group of 450 Hindu refugees will be allowed back across the border to Myanmar on January 22 as the first step in the repatriation process.
A refugee camp has been set up at Taungpyoleiwei in northwestern Rakhine State for those returning overland from Bangladesh, while a second camp has been erected in Ngakhuya, Maungdaw township for those returning by sea or waterways.
India recently announced a development assistance of $25 million for Myanmar's Rakhine State, from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims recently fled their homeland amid violence against them.
Bangladesh finalised a draft on the physical arrangement to begin the repatriation of Rohingyas living in Cox's Bazar district in an effective and faster way.
Meeting of the National Task force on Implementation of Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals and an inter-ministerial meeting were held recently discussing the repatriation issue.
Around 1 million Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh, including 655,500 new arrivals, since August 25, officials said.
The physical arrangement will have the detailed guidelines for the repatriation and rehabilitation of Rohingyas.
As per the agreement signed on November 23, Myanmar has agreed to take necessary measures to halt the outflow of its residents to Bangladesh, restore normalcy in Rakhine and encourage those who had left Myanmar to return voluntarily and safely to their own homeland and original places of residence or to a safe and secure place nearest to it of their choice.
Under the agreement, Myanmar will take back those people, who entered Bangladesh after October 9 last year and August 25 this year.
The repatriation of those who took shelter in Bangladesh before October 9 last year would also be considered separately after the conclusion of the present arrangement, the minister told journalists.
Officials said the government has prepared a database containing the names of 850,000 Rohingyas who took shelter in Bangladesh.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman told the Security Council recently that the origins and solutions to the Rohingya crisis rest in Myanmar.
"The repatriation and reconciliation policies will fail without the accountability and non-discriminatory rule of law and public safety measures to address the fears and distrust among communities in Rakhine," he emphasised.
On Tuesday, the draft of the physical arrangements for Rohingya repatriation was finalised at an inter-ministerial meeting at the foreign ministry and also at the meeting of the National Taskforce on Implementation of Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals.
Talking to reporters, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said the first meeting of the JWG will be held in Naypyitaw by January 15, and the detailed physical arrangements for the repatriation will be finalised there.
The Bangladesh government has already completed the database of 923,000 Rohingyas with fingerprints and other necessary information. Of them, 19,000 are displaced orphan children who arrived in Bangladesh during the persecution, he said.
Asked whether it would be possible to begin the repatriation within the stipulated time, the state minister said it may be delayed by a few days but not more than that. Dhaka to give Naypyitaw a list of 1 lakh rohingys.
An estimated 655,000 forcibly displaced Rohingyas have fled Myanmar and taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape persecution by the Myanmar military after a group called Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army allegedly carried out attacks on police posts on August 25, killing 12 members of the security forces.
Talking to this newspaper, the senior diplomat at the Myanmar Embassy said the returnees will be initially kept at two camps.
Later, the Rohingyas whose houses were not destroyed would be allowed to go back to their homes. But those who lost their houses in the attacks have to stay temporarily in the barracks until new houses are built for them, said the diplomat.
During their stay at the temporary camps, Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement will arrange for their food and needs. They will also be able to earn by working at construction sites under the plan "Cash for Work", the diplomat mentioned.
In a press release on Tuesday, Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka said Myanmar ministries are working with all the parties concerned to accommodate the returnees in time.
"The principled position of Myanmar is that disputes between neighbouring countries must be resolved amicably through bilateral negotiations," it said.
As per the repatriation agreement signed on November 23, Myanmar will provide necessary forms to be filled by the prospective returnees. They need copies of documents issued in Myanmar indicating their residence, such as old and expired citizenship ID cards/national registration cards/ temporary registration cards (white cards) and any other documents issued by the relevant Myanmar authorities or other documents or information such as addresses, reference to household and other particulars and information.
However, foreign affairs and migration experts cast doubt about "safe and voluntary" return of the refugees as the stringent verification conditions may obstruct smooth repatriation.