Rohingya repatriation now likely from May.

Dhaka became 'cautiously optimistic' about the start of long-stalled Rohingya repatriation from May after a tripartite meet Tuesday with China and Myanmar, and diplomatic experts suggest top-level push to get the accord through. The host side said there was "no ambiguity in their tone" on the matter of starting the repatriation as Naypyidaw showed its "flexibility" to take back their nationals at the day's tripartite meeting for resolving the crisis. 'In diplomatic language, I can say - we are 'cautiously optimistic' (of starting repatriation by May) ... we are sincerely engaged so that, at least, we can start the (repatriation) process,' foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen said after the official-level talks. The senior secretary, who led the Bangladesh delegation, was speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry after the 90-minute virtual tripartite meeting. Chinese vice minister Luo Zhaohui and Myanmar Deputy Minister of International Cooperation Hau Do Suan led the delegations of their respective countries at the meeting, held after a long lapse for the coronavirus pandemic that upset all set orders. The first trilateral meeting for a bilateral solution was held among the foreign ministers of Bangladesh, China and Myanmar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in 2019 while the last official- level tripartite meeting in January last year. The New York initiative, mediated by China, got underway after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had moved at the UN assembly a formula for an international remedy for the long-running problem of domicile of the Myanmar minority Muslim community in particular. The foreign secretary said Dhaka at Tuesday's meet first proposed starting the repatriation in the first quarter, but Myanmar said logistical arrangement would take some more time. 'So, we said we can do it in the second quarter,' he said, adding that the Myanmar side showed their flexibility about Dhaka's proposal to start by second quarter of this year. However, the secretary said that there were lots of factors to complete the repatriation process but 'we would like to work with hope'. "There was nothing to be disappointed in their talk and tone," he told the media. Masud said Dhaka has proposed to start the repatriation village by village or by cluster of villages so that Rohingyas could get confidence to return back home with their known neighbours together. But, the Myanmar side said they would like to start the...