DHAKA, Dec. 12, Reuter: Nearly 25.000 Bangladeshi tribesman who have fled to India to escape a guerrilla war are likely to be repatriated in about two months times, officials said today.
They aid repatriation of the Chakma and the other tribesmen to the Southern Chittagong Hill tracts would take place under an agreement between the two countries to improve relations.
“We have already set up camps at Ramgarh and Panchari villages along the border for the tribal refugees, but a firm date for their return has yet to be fixed”, Khurshid Ahmed, an administrator of the Hill tracts, told Reuters He said all the refugees could be home by the end of February if repatriation started within two weeks.
Nearly 5,000 tribesmen returned to the Hill tracts after more than a year’s stay in Indian refugee camps, officials said.
The tribesmen fled to India to escape clashes between government troops and tribal Shanti Bahini guerrillas fighting for autonomy.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 19, 1986
