Burma: Border trade halted in Burma-Bangladesh border

Border trade has been halted in Burma-Bangladesh border after the arrest of two Burmese nationals by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on December 29, says our correspondent.

On December 31, Nasaka Burma's Border Security Force declared not to export rice, timber, cattle, goats and other things to Bangladesh following the arrest of two Burmese nationals, the clearing and forwarding agent of Teknaf Land Port said.

On December 29, at noon, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) arrested two Burmese nationals including one Rakhine and one Rohingya while they were taking video clips of area surrounding the land port without permission from the concerned authority.

The arrestees were identified as Maung Situ Aye (25), son of Aye Lwin of Ward No. 3 and Bodiul Alam (22), son of Ali Ahmed, from Ward No.5 of Maungdaw Town. It is learnt that they are agents of Nasaka, according to the Land Port authority.

After the arrest, they were handed over to the Teknaf police station for further interrogation. They are still in the police custody.

The police of Teknaf filed a case against the Burmese nationals in Teknaf police station, according to an official report.

The authorities in Burma closed the Burma-Bangladesh border trade indefinitely until matter is settled. Border businessmen said, "Rice, cattle, timber, goats and other things are imported from Teknaf land port along the corridor of Shaphuri Dip. If goods from Burma are not exported from the said points, Bangladesh will face many kinds of difficulties. So, the problem needs to be solved early, said a trader from Teknaf.

Source: Kaladan Press Network