Aizawl, March 2 (NationPress) In Mizoram's 11 districts, authorities have successfully completed the biometric enrolment for over 97 percent of the approximately 28,355 Myanmar refugees, including women and children, who found refuge in the state following the military coup in February 2021, as reported by officials on Monday.

Following the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the biometric enrolment initiative for both Myanmar and Bangladeshi refugees has been ongoing in Mizoram since July 2025, utilizing the Foreigners Identification Portal and the Biometric Enrolment System.

A senior representative from the Mizoram Home Department stated that of the 28,355 Myanmar nationals currently residing across the state, biometric information for 27,574 individuals has been documented, achieving a coverage rate of 97.24 percent.

The biometric enrolment has been fully finalized in the districts of Aizawl, Lunglei, Serchhip, and Champhai.

Champhai district, which shares the longest unfenced international border with Myanmar, accommodates the largest number of refugees, totaling 12,083. Lawngtlai district, located in southern Mizoram and bordering both Myanmar and Bangladesh, is home to the second-largest population of Myanmar nationals, numbering 5,034. Out of these, biometric details for 4,870 individuals, or 96.74 percent, have been collected.

However, the enrolment process has significantly slowed in six districts over the past two months due to various obstacles, including inadequate internet connectivity.

The process remains incomplete in Siaha (3,195 refugees), Hnahthial (590), Khawzawl (312), Mamit (310), Saitual (190), and Kolasib (185).

In total, of the 2,365 Bangladeshi refugees currently residing in four districts, biometric enrolment has been finalized for 501 individuals, which is 21.18 percent of the total.

Three districts—Serchhip (235 refugees), Lunglei (76), and Aizawl (7)—have successfully completed biometric data collection for all Bangladeshi nationals there.

In Lawngtlai district, which hosts 2,042 Bangladeshi refugees, biometric data has only been recorded for 183 persons, representing a mere 8.96 percent.

The Mizoram government emphasizes that this exercise is intended to ensure proper documentation and enhance administrative coordination while providing humanitarian support.

Both Myanmar and Bangladeshi refugees are residing in designated relief camps as well as in rented accommodations and with relatives throughout all 11 districts of the hilly state. An official from the Home Department noted that while collecting biometric data from camp residents is relatively straightforward, the procedure becomes much more complicated for those residing with relatives and in rented homes scattered across numerous remote villages.

To mitigate this challenge, district authorities have enlisted the help of village councils and civil society organizations, especially the Young Mizo Association, as indicated by the official.

Along with biometric data, the enrolment process also encompasses the gathering of biographical information such as names, addresses, parents' names, and employment history in both Myanmar and Mizoram.

The majority of Myanmar refugees originate from Chin state, while the Bangladeshi refugees predominantly belong to the Bawm community (also known as the Bawmzo tribal group). Both groups share strong ethnic, cultural, and traditional connections with the majority Mizo population of Mizoram.

At one point, the count of Myanmar refugees in the state peaked at around 35,000. However, with some improvements in the situation in Myanmar, thousands have returned. Myanmar's Chin state shares a 510-km-long unfenced mountainous border with Mizoram's Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip districts. Additionally, Mizoram's Mamit, Lunglei, and Lawngtlai districts share a 318-km-long unfenced border with Bangladesh. Furthermore, Mizoram has also offered shelter to several thousand displaced tribal individuals fleeing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in neighboring Manipur since May 2023.