Myanmar Verifies 308,797 Rohingya in Bangladesh, Ties Return to Security

Myanmar's military government has confirmed that nearly 309,000 people sheltering in Bangladesh camps are former residents of Rakhine State, but has made clear that any repatriation will depend on improved security conditions in the region.

The foreign ministry said over the weekend that it had verified 308,797 individuals as former Rakhine residents out of 828,824 names submitted by Bangladesh as of July 31, 2026. The verification process is part of a long-stalled effort to return Rohingya refugees who fled violence in 2017.

According to the United Nations, more than 700,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh that year following a military crackdown. Many others have since attempted perilous sea and land routes to escape the region.

Myanmar's statement also flagged concerns about the repatriation list. It said 4,241 people on the list were identified as involved in terrorist activities, while another 113,507 could not be verified. The government insists that returns will only begin once Rakhine State becomes more stable.

The delay is compounded by ongoing fighting between Myanmar's military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group seeking greater autonomy for Rakhine. Yangon maintains that repatriation is strictly a bilateral matter with Bangladesh.

Past attempts have yielded little. Arrangements made in 2018 and 2019 produced no returnees despite preparations on both sides. In a separate development, Myanmar agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya asylum seekers from Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur has said it will not proceed with the transfer if lives are at risk.