Yangon, May 22 (IANS): Myanmar's navy on Friday handed over to the country's western Rakhine State government 208 Bangladeshi nationals who were found drifting at sea on a migrant boat.

The migrant boat carrying 219 people, including 208 Bangladeshi citizens, nine crew members and two interpreters, were rescued by Myanmar navy at sea about four miles west of Thinbawgway village in Maungdaw township of Rakhine State on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported citing a press release issued by the country's ministry of information.

Another empty boat was also found while the Myanmar navy ship was patrolling the sea.

After the rescue process, the boat people were sheltered at Alethankyaw village in Rakhine and humanitarian assistance was being provided to the migrants, it added.

Recently, Myanmar immigration authorities have repatriated 11 Bangladeshi refugees who drifted to shore near Oodaung village in Maungtaw, Rakhine state, after being forced to jump down from a boat bound for Malaysia.