In a significant move reflecting its growing humanitarian commitment, Bangladesh has agreed in principle to a United Nations request to establish a humanitarian corridor along its border with Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine state, senior officials announced on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Towhid Hossain confirmed that the transitional government had consented to the plan, albeit with stringent conditions. “The UN wants to create a humanitarian corridor through Bangladesh to send aid to Myanmar’s Rakhine state. We have agreed in principle, but subject to specific conditions,” Hossain said, while refraining from disclosing the full details of the stipulations.
The decision comes as Myanmar’s internal conflict escalates, particularly in Rakhine state where the military junta has blockaded essential supplies in an effort to isolate the Arakan Army, further deepening a burgeoning humanitarian catastrophe. With famine looming, the UN had appealed to Bangladesh to facilitate the safe passage of relief materials.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s vested interest in regional stability, Hossain noted, “The conflict in Myanmar is directly linked to us. Over 1.3 million Rohingya have already taken refuge in Bangladesh. Our priority remains their safe and voluntary repatriation.”
Bangladesh's leadership faces a delicate balancing act, as officials expressed concerns that such corridors could be misused by criminal networks, insurgents, or arms traffickers operating across the porous frontier. Addressing those risks, Hossain clarified, “It will be a corridor for humanitarian goods only—no arms, no illicit materials.”
Adding to the complexity, Hossain pointed out that much of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border region is now under the control of non-state actors, chiefly the Arakan Army. “The Myanmar central government has no control there. While we avoid formal engagement with non-state entities, practical necessities mean some level of communication is inevitable,” he remarked.
The humanitarian corridor initiative marks a calculated yet compassionate step by Bangladesh, underscoring its strategic foresight amid a worsening crisis next door. Observers see Dhaka’s move as a balancing act between aiding distressed civilians and safeguarding national security interests.
Further diplomatic negotiations are expected in the coming weeks to finalize the operational framework for the humanitarian corridor, with UN agencies preparing for immediate deployment once greenlighted.
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