YANGON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and Bangladesh were seeking cooperation to resolve the issue of refugees stranded at zero line during the process of repatriation from Bangladesh, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.
Both sides vowed at their border authorities' meeting at Taung Pyo Letwe, Rakhine state Tuesday to offer assistance in sending the refugees camping at the zero line back home.
Some international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) went into the zero line area under their own arrangement to provide aid to the refugees.
Known as no man's land, the zero line is an undeveloped, formerly uninhabited area on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh that has recently become homes for refugees who rejected to participate in the repatriation.
Rakhine state officials said the action of the refugees at zero line are politically motivated to create international pressure.
Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an arrangement in November last year on return of displaced persons from Bangladesh fleeing Rakhine conflict, based on the joint statement signed by foreign ministers of the two countries in 1992 which guides the systematic verification and acceptance of displaced persons from Rakhine state.
The two countries also agreed to establish border liaison offices in Maungtaw in northern Rakhine and Tak Naf in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Myanmar voiced readiness to start on Jan. 23 to receive displaced persons repatriated from Bangladesh.
Myanmar said it would receive the verified returnees at Taung Pyo Letwe and Nga Khu Ya reception centers, while Hla Pho Kaung will be a transit camp for the returnees.
A committee was established in September last year to implement the recommendations of the final report of the advisory commission, led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The government has also invited cooperation from local and international community in rebuilding and resettlement efforts for conflict-torn Rakhine state.
The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army extremist terrorists launched attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 last year, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw of the state.
