Bangladesh would be willing to provide logistic support should there be a UN-led humanitarian support to the state of Rakhine, Khalilur Rahman, the government's adviser on Rohingya issues, told AFP.

"We believe that the UN-supported humanitarian aid would help stabilise Rakhine and create conditions for the return of the refugees."

Khalilur said the aid route was only at a "consultation stage" and would require consensus among multiple groups.

"We are in touch with the UN and other concerned parties in this regard," he said.

Touhid Hossain, foreign affairs adviser in the interim government, on Sunday said that Dhaka would consider a "humanitarian passage", provided the UN agrees to certain conditions.

But that prompted worries among Bangladeshi political parties. The BNP secretary general on Monday said the government should have consulted the issue before deciding to provide "humanitarian corridor" for Rakhine state, as it is related to the country's security and sovereignty.

Louise Barber, from the UN office in Bangladesh, said the proposal required the approval of the authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

"Any humanitarian support, or supplies across the border from Bangladesh to Myanmar, will first need to be agreed between the two governments," Barber said.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam yesterday said the government has not discussed the so-called "humanitarian corridor" with the UN or any other entity, but it would be willing to provide logistics support to the transportation of aid to Rakhine state through Bangladesh, reports our diplomatic correspondent.

"Our position is that should there be an UN-led humanitarian support to the state of Rakhine, Bangladesh would be willing to provide logistics support," he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

After a visit to Bangladesh in mid-March, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told media in Dhaka that he discussed with Bangladesh authorities the possibilities of channelling humanitarian aid inside Myanmar via Bangladesh as a means of creating conditions for Rohingya repatriation to Rakhine state.

He admitted it would, however, require the "authorisation and the cooperation of the parties to the conflict".

Citing the UNDP, Shafiqul yesterday wrote on his verified Facebook page that Rakhine is facing an acute humanitarian situation, and that Bangladesh has a stellar record in helping countries in times of distress, as exemplified by our aid to Myanmar following a recent devastating earthquake.

"Moreover, we are concerned that persistence of suffering may lead to further inflows of people from Rakhine into Bangladesh, which we cannot afford.

"We also believe that the UN-supported humanitarian aid would help stabilise Rakhine and create conditions for the return of the refugees to Myanmar."

He said that given the present conditions, the only viable route for delivery of aid to Rakhine is through Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is agreeable in principle to provide logistics support to the transportation of aid through this route. However, there has not been a decision on the provision of aid to Rakhine.

"We are in touch with the parties concerned in this regard. In due course, we will consult relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh."

As regards the reports of involvement of a major power, Shafiqul said, "These are pure and unadulterated propaganda. We have seen a constant barrage of malicious disinformation hurled against Bangladesh in recent months, which still continues. This sort of propaganda is no different."

Adviser Touhid Hossain could not be reached yesterday for comments on the claim of Shafiqul.

Contacted, the foreign ministry's Public Diplomacy Wing said it could not give any clarification immediately.

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Dhaka agrees to aid corridor, but with conditions: Touhid