Myanmar President pardons 58 detained Rohingyas

Dhaka [Bangladesh], May 28 (ANI): Myanmar President U Win Myint has forgiven 58 displaced Rohingyas detained for attempting to re-enter the country from Bangladesh.

A total of 62 returnees were arrested by Myanmar local authorities for illegally crossing the border, as per The Daily Star.

The group was attempting to return to strife-torn northern Rakhine State's Maungdaw Township from a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

It is believed that they were traveling independently, and not according to the refugee repatriation agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh which was signed on November 23, 2017.

The cases against four of the detainees have been dropped.

According to the daily, not a single person had been officially repatriated, despite the bilateral agreement.

Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar, who are considered as illegal immigrants as opposed to citizens of the country.

Due to a surge in violence in western Myanmar last year, over 700,000 Rohingyas fled the country to escape the military's action. Presently, they are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI