The renewed conflict between the Military Council and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State has led to a complete halt in trade along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, local traders said.
Since November 13th, renewed clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Military Council have erupted in Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Pauktaw, and Minbya townships in Rakhine State. A merchant based in Maungdaw reported that due to the escalating conflict, the border trade has come to a standstill.
"We can't export goods from Maungdaw, and the flow of goods imported from Bangladesh has completely stopped. It's been like this for about a week”, he told Narinjara.
Upon the resurgence of hostilities, the Military Council imposed blockades on all land routes and waterways in the region, leading to a complete cessation of trade and causing significant hardship for merchants
After shipping over 40 tons of fish from Sittwe port to Teknaf port in Bangladesh on November 14th, there has been no further export or import activities between the two sides.
"All trade routes are blocked. We can't travel anywhere anymore. When blockades are set suddenly like this, it hurts both sides. Our goods meant for export go to waste, and the other side can't import to us”, a local trade operator said.
Myanmar imported 1,300 tons of onions in October, with an additional 600 tons of onions and 400 tons of flour yet to be imported according to a Bangladeshi news report
The news further stated that the sudden cessation of border trade has resulted in a total loss estimated at around 150 million taka.
Between November 11th and 14th, commodities including tamarind seeds, plum paste, wet and dry ginger, rohu fish, hilsa fish, betel nut, and plum jam were exported from the Sittwe trade zone in Rakhine State to Bangladesh, totaling a value of 0.3138 million USD, as reported by the Military Council's Customs Department.
In the realm of bilateral trade, the Shwe Mingan port in Sittwe and the Kanyinchaung economic zones in Maungdaw primarily facilitate the export of forestry, agricultural products, and fishery products from Myanmar through waterways. Meanwhile, Bangladesh predominantly imports plastic products and metal cookware to Myanmar, with the journey originating from Teknaf port.
