Experts have urged Bangladesh to clearly define its national interests and exercise caution before granting a conditional "humanitarian corridor" into Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state, warning of the potential for new crises under the guise of humanitarianism.
International relations specialists and security analysts have advised that while facilitating humanitarian aid is noble, it must not come at the cost of creating new vulnerabilities for Bangladesh.
Political leaders, meanwhile, criticised the interim government for not engaging with major political parties before making such a sensitive decision.
Specialists recalled how the previous Awami League government, under the banner of humanitarian assistance, opened its borders to an overwhelming influx of Rohingya refugees — a move that has since evolved into one of Bangladesh’s gravest long-term challenges.
They caution that offering another corridor, even conditionally, could risk compounding the crisis.
Major General (Retired) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, told Khaborer Kagoj, "There are numerous questions surrounding this conditional humanitarian corridor.
Firstly, there is no transparency. The Foreign Affairs Adviser mentioned conditions, but what are they? They must be disclosed to the public.
Moreover, Rakhine is no ordinary region; it is entangled with global powers like China, Russia, and the United States, amid ongoing armed conflict. Why would Bangladesh entangle itself in such a volatile situation? This is a cause for concern."
Earlier this year, amid fears of famine in Rakhine, the United Nations requested Bangladesh to allow aid to be channelled through its territory.
In response, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain announced on Sunday that Bangladesh had agreed in principle to permit the corridor under strict conditions and UN supervision.
However, he withheld specifics, merely assuring that the aid flow would exclude weapons.
Munshi Fayez Ahmed, former Bangladeshi ambassador to China, stressed in comments to the BBC that while the UN might manage the corridor, Bangladesh must retain ultimate control to suspend operations if necessary.
He argued that a well-managed corridor could even facilitate the eventual repatriation of Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh.
Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, an international relations expert, voiced further scepticism: "It is unclear why this corridor is needed and whose interests it will ultimately serve — Bangladesh’s or the UN’s? If humanitarian operations through the corridor also allow groups like the Arakan Army to exploit Bangladeshi territory, the consequences would be disastrous. We must ask: where is the funding for this sudden humanitarian initiative when the UN has claimed it can no longer support the Rohingya camps?"
Dr Ahmed warned that unless Bangladesh remains vigilant, it could find itself inadvertently embroiled in Myanmar’s internal conflict between the military junta and armed groups.
The plight of the Rohingya is familiar. On 25 August 2017, waves of Rohingya Muslims fled brutal military crackdowns in Rakhine, seeking refuge in Cox’s Bazar.
Today, the Rohingya population in Bangladesh is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.3 million, although official figures from the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) place the post-2017 arrivals at over 1.1 million.
There are concerns that many have since blended into local communities.
Professor Dr Dil Rowshan Jinnat Ara Nazneen, deputy vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, was blunt: "Myanmar has never treated us fairly. If the corridor serves the repatriation of Rohingyas, it is acceptable; if not, it is utterly unnecessary. Our focus must remain on returning the Rohingyas, not aiding Myanmar’s strategic interests."
She criticised the government’s reticence: "If this is a democratic government, why suggest that details of the corridor cannot be disclosed? Transparency is essential. Keeping citizens in the dark is unacceptable."
The broader context is dire. Since Myanmar’s military ousted its civilian government in 2021, the country has been wracked by violent uprisings. The Arakan Army, a key member of the anti-junta "Three Brotherhood Alliance", has made significant territorial gains, particularly in Rakhine, where it now maintains substantial control.
Despite these volatile conditions, Bangladesh continues its efforts to negotiate the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees, even as the sands shift perilously across the border.
