By: Camp Correspondent
May 3, 2025
In a significant diplomatic development, the Government of Bangladesh has acknowledged that it can no longer avoid direct engagement with the Arakan Army (AA), the ethnic armed group now in full control of the Myanmar side of the border, replacing the presence of the Myanmar junta forces.
The announcement was made by Md. Towhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Adviser to Bangladesh’s caretaker government, during a press conference held in Dhaka on April 27.
“The entire border is now under Arakan Army control,” Hossain stated. “The Myanmar military is no longer capable of managing the region. Therefore, it is not possible for us to avoid contact with the AA anymore. We will engage with them whenever necessary.”
This marks a major shift in Bangladesh’s approach to the volatile Bangladesh–Myanmar border, particularly in the Teknaf and Naikhongchhari regions, where cross-border violence, refugee influxes, and tensions have escalated in recent months.
Agreement in Principle for Humanitarian Corridor
Hossain also revealed that Bangladesh has agreed in principle to a United Nations proposal for establishing a humanitarian corridor to facilitate aid delivery to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State.
“The UN wants to send humanitarian assistance into Myanmar through Bangladesh. We have agreed to this idea in principle,” he said. “Certain conditions still need to be met, but if the situation allows, we will certainly cooperate.”
The proposed corridor could serve as a lifeline for vulnerable populations, including many Rohingya still trapped inside conflict zones in northern Rakhine. However, the logistics and security arrangements remain under discussion.
Implications for Rohingya Refugees
With more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh—most of whom fled the 2017 genocide—the statement signals a new diplomatic reality. While Bangladesh continues to push for safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation, AA’s growing territorial control has become a decisive factor in shaping future humanitarian and security policy.
“The conflict inside Myanmar has a direct impact on us,” Hossain noted. “Our engagement, including humanitarian cooperation, must reflect the realities on the ground.”
Rohingya Communities Caught in the Middle
The AA’s expanding authority across northern Arakan has been met with mixed reactions among Rohingya communities, particularly as reports of forced labor, displacement, and abuses continue to surface from areas now under AA control. While some hope that a humanitarian corridor may ease suffering inside Myanmar, many Rohingya refugees fear that diplomatic recognition of the AA may come without sufficient accountability for recent rights violations.
