Humanity without accountability can turn into national liability
Recent reports citing policy-level sources suggested that Bangladesh had agreed in principle to a UN-supervised humanitarian corridor to deliver aid to Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine State. The foreign adviser to the government appeared to confirm this in comments to the press. However, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on 29 April categorically refuted the claim, stating that no such decision has been made. However, the reports and accompanying statements have already sparked debate. The Business Standard spoke with experts to explore the challenges, opportunities, and concerns surrounding a potential corridor, as well as the broader Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh
Shariful Hasan
Migration Expert
There are questions that arise from this decision. Do the political parties agree on this? Has the government verified whether the common people of this country are behind such a decision? Can an interim government take such an important decision like a corridor without national consensus?
Another question is, how will the goods that will pass through this corridor be verified and selected? If the humanitarian corridor is opened, I also want to know whether the Arakan Army, rebels or any other group or criminals will take the opportunity to use it as a safe route. If so, what should we do?
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Will the UN or any international community take back the Rohingyas in exchange for providing this humanitarian corridor? I understand that this corridor is thinking about the people living in Rakhine. But under what conditions are we providing the corridor? Do the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military junta have the same position on this issue?
Well, India, China, Thailand, and Laos also have borders with Myanmar. Have these countries been proposed to make humanitarian corridors? Or will only Bangladesh make a corridor?
Look, I have no objection to being humanitarian. But if you look closely, you will see that we have given shelter to over a million Rohingyas considering humanitarian aspects, but have we been able to send back even one? If not, why? What did the UN do then?
Think about it. The number of Rohingyas registered in the 33 refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf is now around 1.2 million. Of these, 500,000 are children aged six to 14 years in the refugee camps. Every year, 30,000 new children are added to the camps. Marriages are also happening widely. What is their future?
A few days ago, the interim government said that it would send back 180,000 Rohingyas, so how did we get another 100,000 Rohingyas? Do the people of Bangladesh agree to give shelter to the Rohingyas again?
Can we tell the UN that in exchange for providing a humanitarian corridor, the Rohingyas will have to be sent back after a year or two? If they are not sent, what will the UN do?
See, I have been to the region of Rakhine myself. I have worked with Rohingyas not only in Bangladesh but also in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. As well as knowing their plight, I have also reported on various crimes from Myanmar, starting with yaba smuggling and human trafficking. I understand a little bit about the behaviour of the Rohingyas and the behaviour of the Myanmar government. Considering that, my question is, are we not creating any new dangers?
I always fear that the weak role of the international community, including the UN and China, may mean that the Rohingyas may never be sent back to Myanmar. What will happen in that case? I hope the government will consider the issues.
The interim government is working for a national consensus on various issues. I request them to establish a national consensus on the Rohingyas. I would like to know from all the political parties in this country what the position of the common people of Bangladesh is on the Rohingyas. I would like to know whether a corridor will be provided or not. If so, on what conditions? How will criminal activities be controlled? Is there any example of a corridor in any country in the world where there have been no problems?
Every citizen of this country has the right to get answers to these questions. How does the government decide to provide a corridor without answering these questions? Under what law? I would like to tell the government, don't do something that will become a thorn in the side of Bangladesh.
BNP's comments about the fear that this could lead to Bangladesh becoming Gaza is quite a powerful statement. If I understand Mirza Fakhrul correctly, he was trying to convey that there was a time when refugees went to Palestine to settle there, and now they have become the state of Israel, waging war on the native population. And now there are discussions of needing a corridor to aid the people of Gaza. This is a powerful and relevant point.
I hope the policymakers will think about these issues. I hope they remember that Bangladesh comes first! You see, even if there are differences of opinion on various issues, everyone has to come together for the sake of the country.
Shariful Hasan is an Associate Director at BRAC and heads its Migration Programme. TBS' Alhan Arsal spoke to him over the phone.
