Rakhine merchants urge to let trade resume on Bangladesh border
Local traders have submitted to Rakhine State government to resume the border trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar_ which have been halted for over eight months as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
U Aung Myint Thein_ chair of the Maungdaw Border Trade Chamber of Commerce_ noted that border trade between Myanmar and Bangladesh stopped in May and resumed briefly in July before it was halted again due to rise of COVID-19 cases in Rakhine in August.
In the border trade between Myanmar and Bangladesh_ the amount of exports is larger than the total value of imports_ so the exchange of goods would be beneficial to the traders.
It is a border route that Myanmar has trading supremacy_ according to the local traders_ noting that the main exports of the country are locally-produced onion_ dried fish and marine products.
The traders are demanding that the government open the border trade as their livelihood is badly affected by closure of businesses in the area_ U Aung Myint Thein said.
As Maungdaw border trade centre is situated in town area_ it is not appropriate to trade during the pandemic and it has been thinking to trade via Kanyin Chaung trading zone_ one and a half mile away from Maungdaw town_ he said.
Kanyin Chaung trading zone is a separate place. If we use this route_ it will be convenient to quarantine goods carriers from both sides and boat drivers here_ he added.
Maungdaw border trade centre does not not enough space and is densely populated as well. So_ it won t be convenient. U Aung Myint Thein said that if the trade resumes_ there will responsibilities that will have to be taken by traders and state government.
If Myanmar approves the resumption of the border trade_ it has to inform Bangladesh government too_ aside from informing the traders on both sides of the border.
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