Why secrecy over humanitarian corridor into Rakhine, Khosru asks government

Underscoring that the interim government’s stance on the Rakhine corridor is “unclear”, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has asked authorities why they are maintaining obscurity about the humanitarian aid passage.

Speaking at a discussion at the CIRDAP conference centre on Saturday, he said the government is not in a position to decide on the corridor.

He added that it would require an agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar or approval from the United Nations Security Council for the global aid organisation to play a role in this.

“Although they initially denied it, the government is holding talks on the corridor. They are also holding discussions in Qatar. What is the secret behind all this?” he asked.

Criticising the interim government’s position in establishing the aid passage, the BNP leader said: “After the corridor became controversial, the government is now talking about a channel. There is a technical difference between the two. Even if the government wants to do that, it should make it clear.

“The question is whether this government is going in the same direction as Sheikh Hasina, who sacrificed the good of the state to protect the interests of other states.”

Commenting on the war situation in Myanmar, Khosru said: “Why should the Rohingya people be sent back through the corridor through the Arakan Army? Why should the Rohingya people be sent back subject to conditions? They have the right to return home with dignity.

“The Arakan Army is engaged in armed struggle with the help of a group of Chinese. Who will guarantee this agreement with the Arakan Army? Stability is most important in Bangladesh. It cannot be exposed to a power struggle.”

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, said: “The decision to provide a corridor is outside the agenda of the interim government. Stop such activities. This is a question of independence and sovereignty. In many places, the humanitarian corridor has been dubbed as a military corridor.”

Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) Chairman Mohammed Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan (Monju), said: “We do not want even one more Rohingya individual. If we work on the corridor, we have to work on a contractual basis. Such a decision should have been discussed with all political parties, not in secret.”

“Even after the announcement of sending back the Rohingya people, they have entered again. The experience of other countries with the corridor is not good. This government did not need to take such a decision," said Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur.