“It will be voluntary. In all of our documents, [that Bangladesh, Myanmar signed] we have mentioned that it will be a voluntary return. We’ll not force them to go back,” AH Mahmood Ali told journalists after briefing Dhaka-based diplomats about the repatriation plan on Sunday.

But he would not give a specific date about when the first batch will start for the Rakhine State as the government does not want to draw media criticism if the deadline is missed.

Myanmar earlier announced the process will begin on Tuesday, two months into the signing of the first agreement on Nov 23.

AH Mahmood Ali, File Photo

“The process is on-going. I cannot put a specific day. You will see when it begins. If I give a date and then miss the deadline, then you [media] will say we could not [send them back in time],” he said.

More to follow