United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, has said the proposed humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine State will only be possible if both the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar agree.
“The UN will assist only if both sides agree. The decision will not be made by the UN,” she said while speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday (June 4). The event was organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).
Replying to questions from journalists, Lewis said the UN is interested in providing technical support in Bangladesh’s next national election, but when and how the election will be held is entirely up to the government and people of Bangladesh.
She said access to Rakhine for delivering humanitarian aid is currently very difficult and challenging. “We call on everyone’s attention to this issue,” she added.
On the Rohingya crisis, Lewis said the UN wants safe and voluntary repatriation of the refugees and is hopeful for a political solution. “This is no longer just Bangladesh’s problem — it is now a global issue,” she said, adding that the UN continues its support for saving Rohingya lives.
She said the UN supports the current government’s reform initiatives but stressed that deciding which reforms to implement is entirely up to the government.
In response to a question on whether the UN prefers reforms before elections, Lewis replied, “That is not our issue. It is a matter for the government and the people.”
Regarding the opening of a UN Human Rights Office in Dhaka, Lewis confirmed the plan is final and said the office will begin operations on a small scale very soon.
Lewis noted that the UN is working in Bangladesh on various issues including green technology, human rights, the garment sector, migration, climate change, and gender policy.
She also praised the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN missions, especially in challenging situations like Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.
MSK/
