173 Bangladeshis return home from Myanmar prisons

Some 173 Bangladeshis have returned home from Sittwe prison in Rakhine state of Myanmar. A ship carrying them arrived at Cox's Bazar Nuniachhara ghat from Sittwe Port on Wednesday (April 24) at noon.

Among the 173 returnees, 129 are from Cox's Bazar, 30 from Bandarban, and seven from Rangamati, Khagrachari, Noakhali, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Rajbari, Narsingdi and Nilphamari.

The ship Chin Duin departed from Sittwe Port for Cox's Bazar on April 23.

Sources concerned said the government took the initiative to bring back 173 Bangladeshi citizens who were detained in Myanmar at various times and who were in prison or under trial in that country. Among them, 144 have completed their prison terms or received pardons. Besides, Bangladesh has raised the issue of releasing 29 more Bangladeshi citizens, who are still imprisoned or under trial, to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the relevant authorities will return 173 people to their families today after verification.
Also, the ship Chin Duin will return tomorrow (April 25) with 285 members of the Myanmar defense forces who were forced to flee across the border to Bangladesh due to the conflict in Rakhine State.

Earlier on October 3, 29 Bangladeshi citizens who completed their prison terms in Myanmar were sent home through flag meeting held between the border guarding forces of the two countries.