According to an officer from the district administration who did not want to be named, Hamid, the owner of the market, which is in Kyauk Hlai Khar Village Tract area number six, originally paid 3 million kyats to the district administration officer U Khin Maung Lwin to get permission to rebuild the bamboo and thatch market in concrete in August.

Hamid explained that he wanted to rebuild the market in concrete because he was worried that it might catch fire in the dry season.

He said that Maungdaw Revenue and Tax Office, the Municipal Office and other security forces in the area had given him permission to rebuild the market to reduce the risk of fire.

But, despite this the District Administration Officer asked Hamid to pay 30 million kyats to get permission to rebuild the market.

Kalu Meah, a former village headman from Maungdaw North said that the authorities had ordered that the market of 50 shops had to be rebuilt in concrete but that the officers were asking for a large sum of money to grant permission for the market to be rebuilt.

He also said that Rohingyas who want to rebuild or repair their houses following Cyclone Komen are being asked for money by village administration officers to report the repairs to the district and township officers as required by the law.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI