National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman today said Bangladesh has not agreed to any "humanitarian corridor" into Myanmar's war-torn Rakhine State, calling the term "misleading" and "misused".
"We have not discussed a humanitarian corridor. We have no agreement on a humanitarian corridor. We have no agreement on anything yet with the parties," said Khalilur, also the high representative for the Rohingya issue.
He made the remarks while speaking as a special guest at a seminar titled "Repatriation of Rohingya in Bangladesh: Strategic Implications on Regional Security and Ways Ahead", jointly organised by the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and the Armed Forces Division (AFD).
Khalilur clarified that even the UN secretary-general did not use the term "corridor", which he said carries specific implications.
"He used the term 'humanitarian channel', which is completely different," he added.
"For any humanitarian effort to proceed, both parties must agree," Khalilur said, adding that the Arakan Army had questioned how they could suspend armed actions while Myanmar's military Tatmadaw continued airstrikes.
"We discussed this with Myanmar's government. They agreed not to launch airstrikes if the Arakan Army halts its ground operations. No fighting, no airstrikes -- that gives us a pause in armed conflict. That's what we have achieved so far," he said.
The national security adviser said the current pause in fighting, if sustained, could pave the way for peace and repatriation. "I am not calling it peace, but the absence of war could finally come in. If properly handled, this could be the beginning of conditions of peace, creating an enabling environment for the refugees to return."
He warned, however, that peace would not be sustainable unless Rohingyas were included in the evolving administration in Rakhine. "When I looked at the leadership of the Arakan Army and United League of Arakan, I didn't see Rohingyas there. Without them, it's essentially a picture of ethnic cleansing. We don't accept that."
He said Bangladesh, through UN-mediated discussions, had conveyed its demand for the inclusion of Rohingyas -- selected by the community itself -- in positions of authority in Rakhine. "We are still waiting for a response," he added.
Bangladesh has so far submitted six batches of Rohingya refugees for verification. "We met Myanmar officials on the sidelines of an event and finally received a verified list of 180,000. They committed to expedite the review of the remaining 150,000."