NAYPYIDAW, 17 August, 2026 (Ghufran) — Myanmar’s military-backed government has verified 308,797 displaced people living in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine State, but said the repatriation process will begin only after security conditions in the region improve.Myanmar’s foreign ministry said it had verified 308,797 people out of 828,824 names submitted by Bangladesh as of July 31, 2026.According to the United Nations, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 following a crackdown by Myanmar security forces. Many Rohingya continue to leave Myanmar through dangerous land and sea routes.Myanmar said 4,241 people on Bangladesh’s repatriation list had been identified as individuals it alleges were involved in terrorist activities, while another 113,507 people could not be verified.
The Myanmar government said the repatriation of Rohingya refugees would begin only when security conditions in Rakhine State become more stable.Myanmar’s military is currently fighting the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group seeking greater autonomy for Rakhine State.Myanmar has maintained that the repatriation process is strictly a bilateral matter between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Previous repatriation arrangements reached in 2018 and 2019 did not result in any returnees despite preparations by both countries.Myanmar has also agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya asylum seekers from Malaysia. However, Malaysia has said the repatriation would not proceed if the return of the refugees placed their lives at risk.