Chief Adviser’s High Representative on foreign affairs, Dr Khalilur Rahman, stated on Tuesday that Myanmar is set to begin reviewing the remaining 550,000 Rohingya names submitted by Bangladesh for repatriation.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Saturday, Dr Khalilur said Myanmar authorities have already verified 180,000 individuals out of the 250,000 Rohingyas initially deemed eligible to return. However, discrepancies in photos and names of around 70,000 individuals have delayed the process.

The update follows a bilateral meeting between Dr Khalilur and Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Shwe on the sidelines of the sixth BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok.

“Myanmar authorities assured that the remaining cases will be reviewed as soon as possible,” Dr Khalilur stated, adding that Bangladesh had submitted a total of 800,000 names across six batches between 2018 and 2020.

Dr Khalilur noted that while challenges remain, the recent engagement signals progress on the Rohingya issue, which has remained at a diplomatic impasse for several years.

On the outcomes of the BIMSTEC Summit, he announced that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has assumed the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for the next two years. Bangladesh, which currently hosts the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, aims to strengthen the organization’s role in regional cooperation.

One tangible outcome from the summit was the signing of a maritime transport cooperation agreement, which is expected to boost connectivity, port development, and trade integration across member states.

Although there has been no breakthrough on the long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among BIMSTEC nations, Dr Khalilur said Bangladesh will spearhead efforts to reinvigorate the negotiation process.

“We believe regional connectivity and cooperation are essential to sustainable growth. The maritime agreement is a step in the right direction,” he added.

The sixth BIMSTEC Summit brought together leaders from South and Southeast Asia to discuss trade, connectivity, climate change, and regional stability.