04 April 2004	Sunday	13 Safar 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 3: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Friday that Pakistan considers the problem of Biharis and non-Bengalis in Bangladesh as a humanitarian issue and remains sensitive to their plight.

In his written reply to a question raised in the National Assembly floor, the minister said the Government of Pakistan had met its obligations under the Tripartite Agreement of 1974 and a total of 169,144 persons were repatriated in three stages between September 1974 and December 1982. In addition, 327 persons were repatriated in January 1993.

He said a survey conducted by Rabita Alam Al-Islamia in 1992 put the number of Biharis at 2,27,440 living in 66 camps in Bangladesh.

Given a three per cent increase in population, the number is understood to be between 0.3 million to 0.5 million at present.

"Despite having met its legal obligations, the Government of Pakistan remains concerned about the problems of Biharis. We concluded an agreement with the Rabita in the mid 1980s to bear 50 per cent of the expenditure on the rehabilitation of Biharis which has been estimated as $400 million. The Rabita would raise the remaining half of the fund, he added.

Mr Kasuri said Biharis, and particularly the youngr generation born after 1971 are desirous of acquiring Bangladeshi citizenship.

In the light of a recent judgment of Bangladesh High Court, they may be considered as citizens of Bangladesh.-APP