Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed on the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar's Rakhine into Bangladesh seeking safety from a military crackdown in Myanmar, Reuters reports citing a Myanmar's official.
READ MORE: Lack of UN Pressure on Myanmar Encourages Further Attacks on the Rohingya — NGO
The deal called Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from the Rakhine State does not include the time frame for repatriation, but according to sources in both delegations, the process may kick off within next two months, the Mizzima media outlet reported.
A source in Bangladeshi delegation said that the Dhaka proposed to complete repatriation within a year but pointed out that Myanmar’s delegation was not ready to make such a decision now.
The US has recently labeled the violence against the Rohingya as "ethnic cleansing", whereas in early November, Washington made one of its strongest efforts to intervene in Rohingya crisis introducing the bill on sanctions and travel restrictions on Myanmar military officials.
On November 7, The UN Security Council has issued a presidential statement expressing serious concern over human rights violations in Myanmar and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine state that could potentially further destabilize the situation in the region.
READ MORE: International Pressure a Must to Restore Rights of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
Russia and China agreed to the UN Security Council resolution urging Myanmar to refrain from further "excessive use of military force", but they opposed tougher steps against Myanmar.
