Yunus dismisses ‘corridor to Rakhine', reaffirms Rohingya repatriation

Dismissing propaganda on the corridor to Rakhine, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday said this is completely a lie and the government will continue their efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis as their repatriation is the only solution. 

"We have noticed that a propaganda is being spread that Bangladesh has provided a corridor for Rakhine. I am saying clearly, this is a complete lie," he said in a televised speech to the nation in the evening. 

Yunus said this is a story to be told with a grain of salt and this is the work of those who are constantly misleading the people of Bangladesh by making false stories and creating unrest. 

"You should be careful about this. Do not be misled in any way. Despite this propaganda, we will not deviate from our goal. We will continue our work to solve this complex problem," said the Chief Adviser. ‌

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, during his visit to Dhaka in March last year, proposed a relief channel to deal with the humanitarian disaster in Rakhine State. 

Guterres said this proposal would be helpful in the repatriation of the Rohingyas. 

"The matter still remains at the proposal stage," Yunus said.

He said when they took office, they found the Rohingya issue almost dead. "The issue had fallen off the international agenda."

From that situation, Yunus said they were able to bring the issue to the forefront of the world's attention.

Yunus had called for an international conference on the Rohingya issue at the UN General Assembly in September last year. 

"You will be happy to know that all UN member states have agreed on this and have decided to organise a high-level international conference. This conference will be held in New York, USA in September this year," he said. 

At the same time, Yunus said they have been able to shape international public opinion for the repatriation of the Rohingya. 

During his visit to Bangladesh last March, UN Secretary-General Guterres clearly declared that repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is the only solution to the Rohingya problem.

Another major development on the repatriation issue is the announcement by the Myanmar government of the first list of Rohingyas eligible for repatriation, Yunus said. 

During discussions on the sidelines of the Bimestec Summit in Bangkok last April, the Myanmar government announced for the first time that 180,000 Rohingyas are eligible for repatriation, he said.

Formal and informal contacts are being maintained with the Myanmar government and the rebel groups there to ensure the repatriation of the Rohingyas and the security of the borders, Prof Yunus said. 

He said they they have discussed with state leaders and government representatives in all the countries he has have visited to deal with the Rohingya crisis and sought their cooperation. "They have also responded positively to our call."

Yunus said over 1.2 million Rohingyas are now living in the country. 

About 100,000 Rohingya came between September 2023 and 2024, when there was a widespread war in Rakhine State. 

"Many are still trying to come due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation there," Yunus said. 

He said they have taken initiatives to stop the Rohingya from coming to Bangladesh and to repatriate those who are already in Bangladesh.