Import and export activities through the Teknaf land port are on the brink of shutdown due to the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army. This escalating unrest across the border is severely impacting cross-border trade, putting the government at risk of losing hundreds of crores in revenue.
According to Md. Sohel Uddin, Revenue Officer at the Teknaf Port, the government has collected Tk 108 crore in revenue from 14,000 metric tons of goods in the first four months of the current fiscal year. In contrast, Tk 404 crore was collected from 68,000 metric tons of goods during the previous fiscal year.
Port officials believe that a diplomatic meeting with the Myanmar authorities could pave the way for a resolution. Until then, the uncertainty looms large over one of Bangladesh’s key gateways for border trade.
By Mohammad Morshed
File Photo
