Myanmar refuses to take 2nd list as it is yet to verify 1st one  

Bangladesh could not hand over the second list of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar officials as they refused to take the list. They are yet to verify the first list of Rohingyas handed over to Myanmar by the government.
"Myanmar could not complete verification of the first list, so, there's no hurry to place the second list. I don't know how much time they will take to verify others mentioned in the first list," a Foreign Ministry official said following a day-long meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWC) between Bangladesh and Myanmar on Thursday.
However, Myanmar once again assured Bangladesh of accelerating verification process to start repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
JWC is reviewing the progress of the repatriation of some 800,000 Rohingyas, who fled atrocities in Myanmar's Rakhine State since October but now they are saying 'it's a complex one and difficult to ease the problem shortly.'
"The Myanmar authority once again set their conditions for repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar which are  (i) documented proof of long-term residence in Myanmar (ii) wants to return to Rakhine of their own will (iii) prove that they have relatives on the Myanmar side of the border and  (in the case of children) to provide evidence their parents are
permanent residents of Myanmar first," an official said.
"We're here for that and we'll accelerate the (verification) process," Permanent Secretary of Myanmar Foreign Ministry Myint Thu told journalists when his attention was drawn to the delay in Rohingya verification process.
Following a day-long meeting at the state guesthouse, Meghna, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and his Myanmar counterpart Myint Thu told media, "We'll be having more meetings and then we'll set out the mechanism to commence repatriation."
"When we raised the issue Myanmar side could not give any satisfactory reply, we wanted to know what they are doing in Rakhine State for the smooth return of Rohingyas but unfortunately they did not say anything," the official said.
"We need to work to promote awareness about repatriation and mentioned that they will be providing information to Bangladesh regarding repatriation complexities," Myint Thu added.
Bangladesh handed over a list of 1,673 Rohingya families (8,032 individuals) to Myanmar on February 16 to start the first phase of repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine state.
Myint Thu said they will work hand in hand with Bangladesh to address the challenges and hoped that they will start the repatriation in the near future.
"You know such repatriation is always very complex and difficult matter. But we feel this repatriation starts as early as possible. We don't have any disagreement over it," Shahidul Haque told journalists at the state guesthouse Meghna on Thursday afternoon.
Terming Rohingya repatriation very complex and difficult, Bangladesh said it is trying to work together with Myanmar for quick repatriation of Rohingyas.
"There is progress in our discussion. Both Bangladesh and Myanmar sides realised the need for quick repatriation of Rohingyaa," he said adding that they discussed all the issues related to Rohingya repatriation.
Nearly six months have passed since the signing of the Rohingya repatriation deal, but Myanmar is yet to take back a single refugee from Bangladesh.
Responding to a question, Bangladesh will be handing over new list of Rohingyas. "Let's hope for the best. We're hopeful."
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation agreement on November 23 in 2017. On January 16, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on 'Physical Arrangement' which will facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland from Bangladesh.