Border trade had faced a major disruption in early April last year
Two Bangladeshi cargo ships reached the Teknaf land port today after being released from Arakan Army’s detention. Photo: TBS
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Two Bangladeshi cargo ships reached the Teknaf land port today after being released from Arakan Army’s detention. Photo: TBS
State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan has announced that steps to reactivate operations at Teknaf Land Port have officially begun.
“Discussions have already taken place with traders, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Coast Guard. Following consultations with C&F agents, Customs, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and other stakeholders, and in response to public demand, port operations are being restored from today,” he told journalists following his visit to the port today (6 April).
Razib visited the port to oversee preparations for the resumption of border trade, which has been suspended for nearly a year due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
During the visit, he inspected port infrastructure, including goods stored in the warehouses.
The state minister arrived at the port, located in the Keruntali area of Teknaf Sadar Union adjacent to the Naf River, at around 11:30am and chaired a high-level meeting with officials from relevant agencies and law enforcement authorities.
He noted the government’s commitment to maintaining bilateral commerce, saying: “We intend to continue trade activities. Border trade will be conducted through coordination between the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh.”
Muhammad Manzarul Mannan, chairman of the Land Port Authority (additional secretary), noted that while the port had technically remained open, security challenges had previously limited trade.
“There were certain security gaps, but there are now no major obstacles to the import and export of goods. Port activities are being fully reactivated in coordination with law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Border trade had faced a major disruption in early April last year.
Currently, the Arakan Army controls around 270km of the border area in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and regulates vessel movement along the Myanmar side of the Naf River.
The suspension began when the Myanmar junta halted trade after the group demanded commissions from cargo vessels, leaving more than a hundred importers and exporters facing financial losses.
As of today, cargo vessel movement from Myanmar to Teknaf Land Port remains officially stalled, though the government’s latest measures aim to restore regular operations.
The visit was attended by Nurunnahar Chowdhury, secretary of the Ministry of Shipping; Lt Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, commanding officer of Teknaf 2 BGB Battalion; Md Imamul Hafiz Nadim, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO); and Md Rakib Uddin, additional superintendent of Police, Cox’s Bazar, among others.
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