Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has stated that claims Bangladesh has opened a corridor for Myanmar’s Rakhine region are completely false and part of a misinformation campaign. He made these remarks during a national address on Friday evening (June 6).

He said, “We have noticed some parties spreading false propaganda that Bangladesh has opened a corridor for Rakhine. Let me be clear, this is entirely untrue. It’s a fabricated story, much like a ‘tall tale.’ Those spreading such falsehoods aim to create confusion and unrest among our people. Everyone should remain vigilant and not be misled. Despite these propaganda efforts, we will not lose focus and will continue working to resolve this complex issue.”

Regarding the Rohingya crisis, he noted that currently around 1.2 million Rohingya reside in Bangladesh. Of these, approximately 100,000 arrived between 2023 and September 2024, during intense conflict in Rakhine State. Ongoing violence and humanitarian crises there mean more people continue trying to enter Bangladesh. The government has taken steps to halt new arrivals and to repatriate those already in the country.

He added, “When we took office, the Rohingya issue had almost fallen off the international agenda. We have managed to bring it back into global focus.”

He also mentioned that last year, during the United Nations General Assembly, he called for an international conference on the Rohingya issue. He was pleased to announce that all UN member states agreed, and a high-level conference will be held this September in New York.

The Chief Advisor said Bangladesh has succeeded in building international consensus on repatriation. In March, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Bangladesh and clearly stated that repatriation is the only solution to the Rohingya crisis.

He revealed that in April, during the BIMSTEC conference side meetings in Bangkok, the Myanmar government for the first time declared that 180,000 Rohingya are eligible for repatriation.

The government is maintaining formal and informal contact with the Myanmar government and rebel groups to ensure repatriation and border security. Bangladesh has also sought cooperation from leaders and governments in countries visited during diplomatic tours, receiving positive responses.

He concluded by saying that during his March visit to Dhaka, the UN Secretary-General proposed establishing a humanitarian relief channel for Rakhine, which could assist repatriation efforts. However, this proposal remains in the planning stage.