About 7,000 Muslim refugees, who are taking shelter inBangladesh will be accepted by Myanmar this year, said Dr Ko Ko Naing,permanent secretary of the military council.

"Initially, we will accept a small number ofrefugees under a pilot project. After solving various challenging problems, wewill try to accommodate more people. Under the Yunnan-Kunming agreement we willaccept 7,000 people this year,” he added.

 The military councilhas already installed reception camps in Maungdaw areas for the refugees whoare re-entering Myanmar.

On 2 September, a group ofdiplomats from 16 countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, etcvisited the Hla Pho Khaung repatriation camp in northern Maungdaw township.The group was led by Union minister Ko KoHlaing.

Dr Ko Ko Naing’s statement has been published in today's militarysponsored newspapers.

All the refugees returning from Bangladesh will bescreened by the immigration department for security reasons. After the e-ID verification, they will be offeredcitizenship cards.

They will be temporarily housed at the reception centers for some days.Then they will be sent to Hla Po Khao inter repatriation camp and finally therefugees will be allowed to move to permanent settlements.

"After staying a few daysin the temporary camp, the refugees will have to move to their placespermanently. About 20 villages have been cleared for them. These will becomenew villages and will be close to old villages, where originally they lived,"he added.

 The military council will providefood items for three months and those associated with the fishing will be givenboats and nets.

 “The authorities will alsoprovideseeds, manures, ploughs, tractors, water pumps, etc. For the time being, wewill provide food grains and drinking water for three months," he statedadding that the military council had been trying since 2022 to accept thoserefugees.

However, if the military council is working on repatriation of refugeesfrom Bangladesh without any discussion with the United League of Arakan (ULA),it may not be successful. Politicalobservers believe that the junta authorities should discuss the process withArakan Army (AA) as well.