Cross-border trade between Maungdaw in Rakhine State and Teknaf in Bangladesh resumed on May 1 after a 13-month suspension, marking a cautious restart of economic activity along the frontier.

The reopening was signaled by the arrival of a timber-laden vessel from Maungdaw’s Kanyengchaung Economic Zone at the Teknaf Land Port at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The vessel had departed earlier in the morning from Maungdaw.

Local sources noted that although Maungdaw is currently under the administrative control of the Arakan Army, the vessel was flying the Myanmar national flag commonly associated with the military authorities, highlighting the complex political dynamics surrounding cross-border trade.

During a visit to the port, Shahzahan Chowdhury expressed optimism about the resumption of legal trade. “We are hopeful that formal trade activities will restart, enabling the government to generate revenue,” he told reporters, adding that full-scale operations could resume within two months, in line with earlier commitments.

Trade stakeholders also welcomed the development. Omar Farooq, representing an importing and clearing agency, described the shipment as a “lifeline” for traders affected by prolonged disruption. He noted that sustained operations could help offset earlier financial losses.

Similarly, Enamul Hassan expressed appreciation to authorities for facilitating the reopening. “This has been a long-standing demand of the trading community. We are now seeing renewed confidence among traders,” he said.

According to port authorities, the shipment included 963 timber logs—comprising 520 Champa and 443 Garjan logs—which are currently undergoing customs processing. Mohd Jassimuddin Chowdhury confirmed the details, noting that operations are being handled by the port management company.

The reopening follows a series of official engagements. Bangladesh’s shipping authorities had earlier announced plans to resume operations in early April, while senior government officials conducted inspections of the port in mid-April to assess readiness.

The resumption of trade is expected to provide a modest economic boost to border communities on both sides, though uncertainties remain regarding the sustainability of operations amid evolving political and security conditions in Rakhine State.

 

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