BNP’s Fakhrul dubs aid corridor in Arakan a 'threat to independence, sovereignty'

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the interim government's “in-principle decision” to provide a humanitarian aid corridor from Bangladesh to the war-torn Rakhine State in Myanmar will threaten the country's “independence and sovereignty”.

He believes the interim administration has taken the decision all by itself while it should have been a point of discussion with political parties.

He made the remarks at a public meeting at Sheikh Bazar in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila’s Jagannathpur union around 6pm on Monday.

After a lengthy conflict with the Myanmar army, the Rakhine region is now under the control of the Arakan Army, an armed rebel group. The communication with Myanmar's mainland from there has been cut off.

On Apr 8, the chief advisor’s top aide Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh is going to join the initiative taken by the United Nations to send humanitarian aid to Rakhine.

Meanwhile, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain said at a briefing on Sunday that Bangladesh has agreed in principle with the UN proposal to set up a humanitarian corridor to the Rakhine State for Myanmar's civilian population, sparking a debate on social media.

Fakhrul said, "I was worried after seeing the report on humanitarian passage to Myanmar's Arakan. That is, we can visit and communicate with Arakan now through Chattogram thanks to the humanitarian corridor.

“Humanitarian passages have also been constructed from different countries to send aid to Gaza. And it is good to have humanity.

“But today Bangladesh has reached that place where it’s allowing a humanitarian passage. This is a very big decision and it is related to our independence and sovereignty and the peace and stability of the region."

"The government should have spoken to all political parties. Without doing so, they (the interim government) are allowing space for the humanitarian corridor by making a decision alone.

He continued, “We don't mind helping people and have no objection to the UN initiative. But it must have people’s support.”

“We don't want to become another Gaza and get involved in another war,” he added.