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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMost of the political parties, including the Awami League, BNP, and leftists, have vehemently rejected the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apart from politicians like former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, influential civil society groups and security experts have also expressed concern over the move, which was put forward by the UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres during his visit to Bangladesh on March 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said the illegal interim government led by Yunus is selling the country to its Western masters by allowing corridors, a military base in the Bay of Bengal, and helping establish a Christian state bordering Myanmar and India\u2019s Seven Sisters, a proposal she declined during her rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The corridor has also been a headache for the governments of Myanmar, India, and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheikh Hasina said the lives of the bordering people and the Bangladesh Army members would be at stake if the junta forces took military action to thwart the corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is speculation that the interim government is inviting a US-linked company to operate the newly built largest terminal of the Chittagong Port to facilitate the corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dhaka, Guterres said<\/a> the United Nations is discussing the possibility of a humanitarian aid corridor to Myanmar from Bangladesh in an effort to create equitable conditions for Rohingya refugees to eventually return, which is being delayed due to the ongoing fight between the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army (AA) rebels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting up a humanitarian aid channel \u201cis obviously a matter that would require authorisation and cooperation of the parties to the conflict,\u201d he said without further specifying.<\/p>\n\n\n While there is no sign of repatriation, some 180,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since August last year through the porous border of 271km. Despite that, Yunus in March falsely boasted that the Rohingyas would be able to return by early next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is widely believed that Guterres revealed the proposal after an understanding with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. But the danger of armed conflict and the presence of other armed groups are the major concerns for Bangladesh\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 8, Khalilur Rahman, the chief adviser\u2019s top aide, publicly mentioned the concept<\/a> of a \u201chumanitarian channel\u201d for the first time. He said discussions about Bangladesh\u2019s potential involvement in such a mechanism began during a Feb 7 meeting with Guterres in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him, preliminary consultations had taken place with the Arakan Army, international organisations, and the Myanmar government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe told him [Guterres] that there is no alternative to international assistance to address the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine. That operation must take place under UN supervision,\u201d Khalilur said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bangladesh also proposed several conditions, which include a ceasefire in Rakhine, ensuring representation of the Rohingya in Rakhine’s leadership, and establishing conditions in the state for the eventual repatriation of Rohingya refugees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, radical Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed a Muslim state in Rakhine, while Bangladeshi jihadists have vowed to wage jihad to this end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other armed groups currently active in the region with similar aims are Ansar al-Islam, Jama\u2019atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkatul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), Hizb ut-Tahir, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), and Jama\u2019atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, security forces seized a huge number of military uniforms in Chittagong, believed to be for the KNF or Jama\u2019atul Ansar, who have been working together for over five years in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to establish a separate country.<\/p>\n\n\n Following the seizure of 51,000 military uniforms, Bangladesh’s intelligence sources said the uniforms were manufactured for the AA, which has a presence in the Bandarban district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast, the fighters from ARSA and RSO are actively supporting the junta in its fight against the AA rebels, who have occupied over 80% of Rakhine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, RSO has been associated with Bangladeshi jihadist groups for over four decades, while ARSA emerged in 2012-13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, approximately 20,000 Bangladeshi Islamist militants are ready to join ARSA and RSO. Sources claim these individuals were recruited through a US-backed global network and have been provided with weapons, training, and communication equipment in a highly organised manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Jamaat-controlled Yunus-led interim government is strategically supporting these jihadist groups and facilitating connections with foreign donors to help advance an extremist agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His involvement, ranging from arms assistance through the so-called humanitarian corridors to other means,s has raised serious concerns, leading to significant public outrage against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timeline<\/strong> He said the interim government agrees in principle, subject to conditions, to the UN proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor through Bangladesh to send aid to Rakhine. \u201cIt will be a humanitarian passage. However, we have certain conditions. I will not go into details. If the conditions are met, we will certainly provide assistance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thinks the corridor will help facilitate the return of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added: “The entire border is now under the control of a non-state actor (AA rebels). There is no<\/p>\n\n\n\n control of Myanmar\u2019s central government there. Therefore, for our own interests, some form of communication is necessary\u2014 although we cannot formally communicate with the non-state actor, it will not be possible for us to stay entirely disconnected even if we want to.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 28:<\/strong> Dr Yunus\u2019 newly appointed National Security Adviser, Khalilur Rahman, told AFP that Bangladesh would be willing to provide technical assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe believe that stability will be restored in Rakhine through humanitarian assistance with the support of the UN, which will create a conducive environment for the return of refugees,\u201d he said. He also noted that discussions on a humanitarian aid route were still ongoing, adding, \u201cThere needs to be a consensus among various stakeholders. We are engaged with the UN and other relevant parties on this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 28:<\/strong> UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the UN Security Council in New York that Bangladesh’s interim government has chosen to engage with the parties to the conflict in Rakhine in pursuit of a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 28:<\/strong> On the government\u2019s remarks, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the government should have consulted on the issue before deciding to provide a “humanitarian corridor” for Rakhine state, as it is related to the country’s security and sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 29:<\/strong> Chief Adviser\u2019s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam justified <\/a>the necessity of the corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n On his verified Facebook page, he said that Rakhine is facing an acute humanitarian situation, and that Bangladesh has a stellar record in helping countries in times of distress, as exemplified by our aid to Myanmar following a recent devastating earthquake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Moreover, we are concerned that the persistence of suffering may lead to further inflows of people from Rakhine into Bangladesh, which we cannot afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We also believe that the UN-supported humanitarian aid would help stabilise Rakhine and create conditions for the return of the refugees to Myanmar.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that, given the present conditions, the only viable route for the delivery of aid to Rakhine is through Bangladesh. “Bangladesh agrees in principle to provide logistics support to the transportation of aid through this route. However, there has not been a decision on the provision of aid to Rakhine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We are in touch with the parties concerned in this regard. In due course, we will consult relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n As regards the reports of involvement of a major power, Shafiqul said: “These are pure and unadulterated propaganda. We have seen a constant barrage of malicious disinformation hurled against Bangladesh in recent months, which still continues. This sort of propaganda is no different.”<\/p>\n\n\n Shafiqul also said the government has not discussed the so-called “humanitarian corridor” with the UN or any other entity, but it would be willing to provide logistical support to the transportation of aid to Rakhine state through Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Our position is that, should there be UN-led humanitarian support to the state of Rakhine, Bangladesh would be willing to provide logistics support,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 30:<\/strong> The government\u2019s desperation to implement the corridor became clearer after Khalil said that Bangladesh is in contact <\/a>with the Myanmar junta and the AA on the issue of stability, humanitarian aid, and Rohingya repatriation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “As the UN wants to provide humanitarian aid, we would like to support that. This can help stabilise the Rakhine state and create conditions for Rohingya repatriation,” he told The Daily Star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The discussion is ongoing. We will definitely make it public to the nation at the right time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the UN will be holding a high-level conference on Rohingyas in New York in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Khalilur, who is known in the US as Roger Rahman, is also the chief adviser’s high representative on Rohingya and other priority issues. He left Bangladesh during the four-party alliance government after his involvement in an extramarital relation led to a double murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 1: <\/strong>BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, in a virtual speech<\/a>, said that only an elected parliament can make such a sensitive decision.<\/p>\n\n\n He deplored that the interim government had neither informed the public nor felt the need to consult the political parties that represent people on a sensitive matter directly related to the country\u2019s independence and sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 2:<\/strong> Shafiqul had to clarify<\/a> the matter amid a huge outcry. He said that if the UN leads the initiative, a decision will be made after discussions with “everyone” involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe agree to the humanitarian corridor if the UN takes the initiative. The whole thing will proceed after speaking to both countries. When the UN operates, it engages all relevant parties\u2014that means they will talk to the Myanmar government and also speak with us. A decision would only be reached after that,\u201d Shafiqul said at a discussion in Chittagong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 4:<\/strong> Khalilur was embarrassed by the criticisms and said <\/a>that no agreement has been reached with any party on the proposed humanitarian corridor or any related matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have not held any discussions on a humanitarian corridor. We have not reached any agreement with the parties concerned on this or any other issue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 8:<\/strong> Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said <\/a>his country is not involved in the humanitarian corridor initiative being discussed. “China does not interfere in any internal affairs of any country,” he said at the event in Dhaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thinks that Bangladesh and Myanmar can properly solve the Rohingya issue through peaceful dialogue and promote the process of repatriation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChina had mediated between Bangladesh and Myanmar for the Rohingya return, but that stopped in late 2023 because of the conflicts in Rakhine State, which still continue,\u201d Yao said. However, China will facilitate dialogue between the two countries, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 17:<\/strong> The BNP acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, reiterated that the interim government does not have the authority to take decisions on the humanitarian corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt seems the interim government is giving more priority to granting corridors and transferring control of the port to foreign hands,\u201d he said at an event. \u201cLet us make it clear once again\u2014decisions on such matters do not fall within the authority of an interim government. These decisions must be made by a national parliament or a government elected by the people\u2019s vote,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailyrepublicbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/un-chief-in-dhaka-1024x682.avif\")
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April 27, 2025:<\/strong> Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain revealed <\/a>the issue of the corridor during a press briefing at his ministry office.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailyrepublicbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/KNF-KNA.jpg\")
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