Myanmar confirms nearly 309,000 Rohingya in Bangladesh, says security issues delaying repatriation

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military-backed government has verified that nearly 309,000 displaced people in camps in Bangladesh are ​former residents of the troubled Rakhine State, but ‌repatriation will proceed only after security in Rakhine improves, the foreign ministry said.

Following are the latest developments in the repatriation ​of Rohingya residents to Myanmar:

• Myanmar has verified 308,797 ​displaced people in Bangladesh as former Rakhine residents ⁠out of 828,824 names submitted as of July 31, ​2026, the foreign ministry said in a statement over the ​weekend.

• According to the United Nations, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 after a crackdown by Myanmar security forces, and ​many more are still leaving via uncertain sea and ​land journeys.

• Myanmar says it has identified 4,241 people on Bangladesh's repatriation ‌list ⁠it alleged were involved in terrorist activities, while a further 113,507 could not be verified.

• Myanmar says repatriation will begin only when security conditions in Rakhine State become more stable.

• Myanmar's ​military is fighting ​the Arakan Army, ⁠an ethnic armed group based in Rakhine that has sought greater autonomy for ​the region.

• Myanmar says repatriation is strictly a bilateral ​matter ⁠with Bangladesh.

• Myanmar says previous repatriation arrangements in 2018 and 2019 resulted in no returnees despite bilateral preparations.

• Myanmar agreed to take ⁠back 5,000 ​Rohingya asylum seekers from Malaysia, ​but Malaysia said the repatriation would not proceed if lives were at risk.