Talks only on sending aid to Rakhine, not corridor

National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman has said the government has not discussed with anyone about humanitarian corridor through Bangladesh into Myanmar and will not do so in future.

"The UN only asked if Bangladesh could assist in sending humanitarian aid near the border, to be delivered to the Rakhine state by UN partners. We said we can consider," he told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.

The issue of humanitarian corridor is a rumour and is being spread by the media of a neighbouring country, he said.

Khalilur explained that a corridor is typically meant for emergency evacuation, which is not applicable here.

Asked about his citizenship, Khalilur said he does not have a US passport. 

On April 27, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said the interim government agreed in principle to provide humanitarian passage, not corridor, to Rakhine state with certain conditions. He, however, did not mention the conditions.

Since then, political parties have been critical of the issue, saying it is a matter of security, independence, and sovereignty and that any such decision should have been taken in consultation with all stakeholders.

"We don't have any divergence of opinions with our army. I had a detailed discussion with the army chief. We are on the same page. I'm also working closely with the foreign ministry," said Khalilur, who is also high representative of the chief adviser on Rohingya and other priority issues.

Asked about the rumours of US pressure for the humanitarian channel, he said there is no pressure from anyone.

He explained that the Arakan Army now controls 90 percent of the Rakhine state where there is a shortage of food and medicine as all the supply channels to Rakhine have been severed because of the conflicts between the Myanmar junta and Arakan Army.

He said some Rakhine people also approached Bangladesh border seeking food and medical aid. "If that increases, we may face a new wave of refugees, which we want to avoid."

Bangladesh is already overburdened with the 1.2 million Rohingyas and cannot accept any more from Rakhine. This crisis needs a sustainable solution, which lies in the repatriation of the refugees, he said.

The security adviser said the Arakan Army has assured Bangladesh that repatriation is one of their core principles, and they would initiate it once conditions are favourable.

Bangladesh is considering this strictly on humanitarian grounds under clear conditions, he said, adding, "Aid must be non-discriminatory. It must not be used for military purposes. Also, Rohingya participation in any emerging administrative, political, and security structure in Rakhine must be ensured.

"We told the Arakan Army directly: any ethnic cleansing or exclusive governance by Rakhines alone will not be tolerated -- it would amount to an apartheid-like state, which we reject."

The UN will be in full charge, including safety and security of the aid, and Bangladesh will secure the border and ensure no drugs or weapons cross through if there is finally such cross-border aid arrangement, he added.

"If the Arakan Army doesn't stop its military actions and Myanmar doesn't stop airstrikes, no aid will be sent from our side."

The UN said that for any cross-border arrangement, all sides -- Arakan Army, Myanmar, and Bangladesh -- must agree.

Asked if Myanmar agrees to such a cross-border arrangement for aid to Rakhine, why it cannot support aid delivery internally, Khalilur said Myanmar may have strategic or tactical reasons for not opening certain areas. "But we won't force it open either."

"We will consider this option only on our terms. If aid can be delivered without using our territory, great. If people are starving and crossing into our territory, it's a problem for us. So, it must happen on terms that safeguard our national interest."

Citizenship

Khalilur said some people are questioning his citizenship, but the fact is that he has only one nationality: Bangladeshi.

"Though I lived in the United States with my family, I never held an American passport. If simply living abroad makes someone a foreign national, then others -- such as Mr Tarique Rahman -- would fall under that category too."

He said these baseless accusations are hurtful and unjustified and requested everyone to speak with responsibility.

"If there is any claim against me, prove it in court. As a Bangladeshi citizen, I have rights, and I expect those to be respected."