Bangladesh’s security and diplomatic circles are once again considering reviving the controversial “humanitarian corridor” to send aid across the Myanmar border, as armed Rohingya groups intensify attacks in Rakhine State. The move, previously shelved amid political backlash, has resurfaced in policy discussions held in Dhaka on Thursday, according to intelligence sources.

The issue came to the fore during a high-level conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh Institute for International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Armed Forces Division (AFD). Senior retired security officials, diplomats, and Army representatives attended the session, which focused on reassessing the feasibility of establishing a controlled corridor to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Buthidaung and Maungdaw provinces.

Speakers, including academics from Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, called for placing the “humanitarian corridor” back on Bangladesh’s security agenda — this time not just for humanitarian assistance, but as a mechanism for “orderly and safe repatriation” of Rohingya refugees.

A retired Bangladesh Army major general, who requested anonymity, said the meeting “dwelt on regional geopolitics” and urged Bangladesh to “play a more proactive role in South and Southeast Asian affairs.”

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The timing of the conference coincided with a significant diplomatic engagement — a three-hour meeting between Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Khalilur Rahman and a senior UK diplomat based in Yangon. According to government sources, British officials “strongly back the Rohingya repatriation,” though Dhaka fears the process could heighten security challenges along its southeastern frontier.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks along the border, with frequent reports of attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO).

On Thursday, the Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement accusing ARSA of ambushing a civilian vehicle near Myo Yu village in Maungdaw Township. The attack left two people dead. “The passenger vehicle was ambushed by the Islamic extremist militant terrorist group ARSA,” the AA said, adding that its forces were “actively searching for the ARSA members responsible.”

‘Humanitarian Corridor’ back on the table

The concept of a “humanitarian corridor” was first floated by NSA Khalilur Rahman but faced fierce opposition from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which claimed the move could entangle Bangladesh in Myanmar’s internal conflict. The proposal was later shelved.

However, sources now confirm that the Armed Forces Division, operating under Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ office, is considering reviving the plan. In May 2025, the same division had proposed designating a “military operations zone” between Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban to tighten border security — a plan now being revisited in conjunction with the corridor proposal.

This time, the corridor is being envisioned not just as a conduit for aid but as a structured channel to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to their original settlements in Rakhine State.

Allegations of cross-border involvement

The discussion comes amid allegations that certain Bangladeshi security agencies, including the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), are clandestinely allowing armed ARSA and RSO members to cross into Myanmar.

Last week, the United League of Arakan — the political wing of the Arakan Army — issued a formal warning to Dhaka, accusing the interim government of tacitly supporting cross-border insurgent raids.

Security experts believe the renewed debate on the humanitarian corridor signals a broader shift in Bangladesh’s regional strategy. With instability deepening in Rakhine and Western pressure mounting for repatriation, Dhaka is weighing how to balance humanitarian responsibility with national security.

As one analyst at the conference summed up: “Bangladesh cannot indefinitely shoulder the burden of nearly a million refugees. The corridor may be controversial, but it could soon become a necessity.”

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