DHAKA, May 21, (V7N)– National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman today definitively ruled out any possibility of allowing a corridor through Bangladesh for Myanmar, unequivocally stating that the government has neither discussed nor intends to discuss such a proposal with any party.

“There has been no discussion with anyone regarding giving a ‘corridor’ to Myanmar through Bangladesh, and we will not even discuss it,” Dr. Rahman declared at a media briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy.

He clarified that current discussions with the United Nations (UN) are exclusively focused on facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, such as food and medicine, through specific channels to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that any future decisions concerning this matter will be made in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. “We can’t give anyone any free pass,” he added, stressing the paramount importance of protecting Bangladesh’s national interests.

The security adviser stated that if Dhaka were to consider allowing aid transportation to Rakhine via a cross-border aid channel, Bangladesh would strictly maintain border security to scrutinize the aid items. The aid, limited to medicine and food, would be entirely managed by the UN and would not be drawn from the existing allocation for the Rohingya refugees currently residing in camps within Bangladesh.

Responding to a question, Rahman indicated that Bangladesh would only consider allowing aid to Rakhine through its land if the Arakan Army demonstrates that it does not favor ethnic cleansing.

In a direct response to a query, the National Security Adviser firmly asserted that Bangladesh is not under any external pressure to provide such a corridor. “We are not under pressure from any country, not even from the United States,” he stated.

Referring to the Rohingya crisis, Dr. Rahman highlighted that the country is already burdened with hosting over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and cannot absorb any additional influx. “Bangladesh’s focus remains on the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar as Dhaka believes that this is the only solution,” he said.

“It has to be sustainable repatriation. They have to go back. They have to stay there (in Myanmar),” Dr. Rahman asserted.

He dismissed any notion of miscommunication between government bodies, affirming close coordination among the National Security Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bangladesh Army.

According to the adviser, the 'corridor' discourse initially emerged in the media of a neighboring country. Rahman remarked that he had not witnessed any serious discussion regarding the Rohingya crisis in the last seven years during the previous regime, adding, “The issue (Rohingya crisis) became a dead issue.” However, Rahman noted that the interim government has successfully brought the matter back to the global forefront.

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