Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to begin the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims by mid-November, though doubts about a speedy return are likely to persist.
More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees started crossing from the west of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar into Bangladesh in August last year.
They were fleeing a brutal military crackdown by Myanmar security forces, triggered by insurgent Rohingya attacks on police posts.
The subsequent mass exodus has caused a humanitarian crisis with attempts stalled to return the Muslim minorities home.
But now officials from both Myanmar and Bangladesh say they'll soon be ready to do so.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said a meeting in the capital, Dhaka, had provided a crucial breakthrough in negotiations.
"This (repatriation) is a complex and difficult process. But a fruitful end will be possible if the parties uphold political will," he said.
"We are convinced after the latest meeting that both the parties have strong political will. We are looking forward to start the repatriation by mid-November. Next month."
According to Permanent Secretary of Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myint Thu, authorities in that country have been working hard to ensure their safe return.
"We have been conducting a number of workshops on promoting awareness among the public, officials as well as the police personnel, so that they cannot discriminate (against) the people in the northern Rakhine state," he said.
"And then we are also promoting public policing, which includes police personnel together with the local communities, to maintain and promote law and order. Also we are promoting awareness on the fundamental principles of access to justice so that people can get access to the justice system."
But the United Nations has warned against rushing repatriations or setting targets, saying independent observers have only been given limited access to assess conditions in Rakhine state.
Rohingya Muslims carry their young children and belongings after crossing the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Source: AAP
Human rights expert Professor Yanghee Lee told UN radio it was a frustrating scenario.
"Myanmar is responsible for the slow action. Bangladesh will not repatriate if the situation is not conducive. Repatriation should not happen unless the situation is conducive and it has to be voluntary and in safety and in dignity," she said.
Despite widespread criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi's handling of the refugee crisis and her refusal to condemn military chiefs, Professor Lee still had respect for Myanmar's de-facto president.
"But we have to remember that she is a politician, not a human rights person.," she said.
"If she could just come out and say 'Hey, we cannot accept atrocities against people. We must stop this and we must ask the military commander-in-chief to stop further atrocities being committed'."
Observers say it's a tricky balancing act for the one-time democracy campaigner, caught as she is between a powerful military, a complex multi-ethnic population and a world demanding action.
