No agreement on humanitarian corridor for Rakhine: National security adviser

Highlights

• Khalilur says Bangladesh yet to make any agreement on the matter
• UN will manage the humanitarian aid corridor to Rakhine
• Relief and food, not weapons, will be transported through corridor
• Bangladesh believes Rohingyas will definitely return home one day

Bangladesh has not agreed to any "humanitarian corridor" into Myanmar's conflict-ridden Rakhine state, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman said today (4 May), calling the term "misleading and misused".

"We have not discussed any humanitarian corridor and no decision has been made on this, or no consensus has been reached with any party on this," he said while speaking as a special guest at a seminar titled "Repatriation of Rohingya in Bangladesh: Strategic Implications on Regional Security and Ways Ahead"

The seminar was organised by the Bangladesh University of Professionals and the Armed Forces Division, reports BSS.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, also speaking at the seminar, said Bangladesh's early efforts with Myanmar through bilateral diplomacy on the Rohingya issue have not produced tangible results.

He criticised the initial reliance on such diplomacy, noting that many, including himself, had warned it would be ineffective.

"We cannot abandon diplomacy … we cannot stop bilateral negotiations, but let us not be very hopeful of bilateral negotiations leading to repatriation," he said.

Khalilur, who also serves as the high representative for Rohingya Affairs, added that even the UN secretary-general did not use the term "corridor."

"He used the term 'humanitarian channel,' which is completely different," Khalilur said. "For any humanitarian effort to proceed, both parties must agree."

He also stressed that Bangladesh respects Myanmar's sovereignty and has no intention of destabilising the country.

Speaking on the long-running Rohingya issue, the National Security Adviser said, "The Rohingyas will definitely return home one day. Even though it won't be easy, the government will make it happen."

'Prolonged Rohingya crisis may destabilise region'

Adviser Touhid warned that the ongoing Rohingya crisis poses a growing threat to both Bangladesh and regional stability. He urged the international community to take stronger action toward a lasting solution.

"We've not yet found a viable solution to this crisis, despite it burdening us for a very long time," he said. He also described the chances of repatriation as grim due to the current situation in Myanmar.

Calling it a "very long-drawn problem," he stressed that Rohingyas must be allowed to return voluntarily, with full rights and guaranteed safety.

"They (Rohingyas) will not return to a place where their lives are at risk and their rights denied. At least in the camps here, there is a measure of safety," he said.

Touhid pointed out that the 2017 exodus was not the first wave of Rohingya displacement.

"Even before that, nearly 300,000 crossed over in a slow, continuous manner. This is a long-standing crisis," he said.

He also discussed Myanmar's fragmented power structure, identifying the military junta, the Arakan Army, and the National Unity Government (NUG) as key actors.

He said all three parties – especially the Arakan Army, which now controls much of Rakhine – must be involved for any lasting solution.

Since 25 August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh to escape brutal military crackdowns in Rakhine State. Today, over 1.3 million Rohingyas live in camps in Cox's Bazar and on Bhasan Char, but not a single person has been repatriated in eight years.