A corridor for Rakhine: What are the answers to various questions?

After the residents of Gaza, the Rohingya people of Rakhine are currently facing the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world. In the war-torn country, a famine could strike at any moment. Fearing such a catastrophe, the United Nations has requested Bangladesh to open a corridor for humanitarian aid.

On Sunday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Bangladesh has agreed in principle to the corridor for Rakhine State. However, there will be some conditions imposed by Bangladesh. Details regarding the nature of these conditions, how the corridor will be managed, and who will administer it in the name of the United Nations have not yet been fully disclosed. However, it is being stated that the corridor will remain under Bangladesh's control.

Since this announcement, several questions have emerged. Political parties have expressed concerns over the government's principled decision to provide a humanitarian corridor. They fear that this could jeopardize the country’s sovereignty and national security. The BNP, Jamaat, and National Citizen’s Party (NCP) have stated that such a decision should not have been made without consulting the political parties. Supporters of the Awami League view this as a conspiracy against the country. Some are trying to present it as an alarming development, while others have even claimed that this corridor could turn Bangladesh into a situation similar to Gaza.

What will happen, we still do not know. However, humanitarian assistance is certainly needed for the people of Rakhine. The same corridor through which aid will pass could also be used to send back the Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh could advocate for international support for them. But we must ensure that this corridor does not turn into a double-edged sword. Even if the corridor is under the United Nations, it is important to know if other powers, like the United States, China, or India, are involved and based on what grounds they are involved. The government must clarify this, keeping in mind that new conflicts should not arise with neighboring countries.

There is a fear that the corridor could create both international and internal problems. Already, misunderstandings have developed between the interim government and political parties. The question is: why did the government make such a significant decision without consulting political parties? The Chief Advisor of the interim government had promised to the United Nations Secretary-General that the Rohingya would be sent back to their homeland soon. However, it seems that Rohingyas are still entering Bangladesh in large numbers.

The Rohingya crisis is increasingly becoming Bangladesh's primary national issue. It is no longer a matter that can be taken lightly. The government must make careful decisions regarding the Rohingya issue and the corridor. While the management of the humanitarian corridor may be under the United Nations, many have stated that full control must remain in the hands of Bangladesh.