Bangladesh agrees to allow humanitarian aid corridor to Rakhine

The government has agreed in principle to allow a humanitarian corridor between Bangladesh and the Rakhine state of Myanmar under the supervision of the United Nations. 

UN asked Bangladesh for the corridor as there is a risk of famine in the state around March or April. However, several condition will be placed to allow the corridor. 

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain confirmed the matter in a press briefing at the ministry on Sunday afternoon. 

When asked whether the corridor would be safe for Bangladesh, he said, "This will be a way to send goods, not arms."

According to a source at the foreign ministry, there is a lack of agreement regarding the issue at the administrative level. However, the government agreed to the UN's request. 

It may be mentioned that even without a corridor, the UN has sent humanitarian aid to Rakhine from Teknaf at least twice in the last two months. 

According to the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), around 7.5 lakh Rohingya refugees entered Bangladesh in a few months since 25 August 2017. At present, the number of registered Rohingya refugees in the camps is 10,05,675. Rohingyas are still entering the country. The UN is now urging Bangladesh to provide them with housing.