More than 500 boat people arrested in Phyarpon district who are now at the 37th milepost on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh will be repatriated to Bangladesh this week, said U Khin Soe, head of the Immigration department in Rakhine state, adding that the department had received authorisation from Bangladesh to allow the boat people to enter Bangladesh.
The boat people arrested in Phyarpon district of Ayeyarwady region on 29 May were taken to the 37th milepost of the border to be checked.
“We can't say the exact date (to repatriate the boat people). We will know from the Minister of Border Affairs after the state government as a meeting.” Said U Khin Soe.
The boat people were initially sent to Haing Gyi Island, but later they were moved to the Rakhine border so that it would be easier to repatriate them to Bangladesh. They have undergone identity checks for over a month.
“Bangladeshi officials have approved the move, so we told them to receive the boat people as soon as possible” said U Khin Soe.
Among 733 boat people arrested in Ayeyarwady region, 186 people are from Myanmar and have been sent to their hometowns said U Khin Soe.
Bangladeshi officials have identified 557 boat people at the temporary camp at the 37th milepost on the border with Bangladesh and the respective governments are checking personal details.