Myanmar conflict hits Bangladesh border trade hard

NEWS DESK

Trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar has fallen sharply in recent months due to ongoing clashes between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army in Rakhine state, officials say.

Imports from Yangon to Teknaf land port have been completely halted since mid-January, after the Arakan Army blocked three cargo vessels headed to Bangladesh.

As a result, Bangladesh’s revenue from border trade has dropped by over Tk 2.47 billion compared to the same period last year.

According to customs data, Bangladesh imported just under 15,000 metric tonnes of goods from Myanmar between July and March in the current fiscal year, earning around Tk 1.08 billion in revenue. During the same period last year, imports stood at nearly 60,000 tonnes, generating over Tk 3.56 billion.

Ehteshamul Haque Bahadur, general secretary of the Teknaf C&F Agents Association, said: “If the conflict continues and trade with Yangon remains suspended, we face serious losses. The government is also missing out on a huge amount of revenue.”