Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam yesterday said the interim government has not dis-cussed about the so-called ‘humanitarian corridor’ with the United Nations (UN) or any other enti-ty.
“We want to make it categorically clear that the government has not discussed about the so-called humanitarian corridor with the UN or any other entity,” he said to a journalist over reports about the UN ‘humanitarian corridor’ to Rakhine State of Myanmar through Cox’s Bazar.
Alam said, “Our position is that should there be an UN-led humanitarian support to the state of Rakhine, Bangladesh would be willing to provide logistics support.”
According to UNDP, he said the Rakhine state is facing an acute humanitarian situation.
Bangladesh has a stellar record to help countries in times of distress, as exemplified by “our aid to Myanmar” following recent devastating earthquake, he added.
“Moreover, we are concerned that persistence of suffering may lead to further inflows of people from Rakhine into Bangladesh, which we cannot afford,” the press secretary warned.
He said the interim government also believes that the UN-supported humanitarian aid would help stabilise Rakhine and create conditions for the return of the refuges back to Myanmar.
Given the present conditions, he said, the only viable route for delivery of aid to Rakhine is through Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is agreeable in principle to provide logistics support to the transportation of aid through this route, he added.
“However, there has not been a decision on the provision of aid to Rakhine. We are in touch with the concerned parties in this regard. In due course, we will consult relevant stakeholders in Bang-ladesh,” Alam said.
He said as regards the reports of involvement of a major power, “these are pure and unadulterated propaganda”.
“We have seen a constant barrage of malicious disinformation spread against Bangladesh in recent months, which is still continuing. This sort of propaganda is no different,” the press secretary said.
