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Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said the interim government has not discussed the so-called ‘humanitarian corridor’ with the United Nations (UN) or any other entity.
“We want to make it categorically clear that the government has not discussed the so-called humanitarian corridor with the UN or any other entity,” he said, responding to a question over reports about the UN ‘humanitarian corridor’ to Rakhine State of Myanmar through Cox's Bazar, BSS reports.
Alam said, “Our position is that should there be 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 of helping countries in times of distress, as exemplified by “our aid to Myanmar” following a recent devastating earthquake, he added.
“Moreover, we are concerned that the 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 refugees 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 for 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 Bangladesh,” 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.