Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, May 4.
Residents say the price of cement has surged to over 200,000 kyats per bag in areas controlled by the Arakan Army.
In townships under AA control such as Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbra, and Myaybon locals reported that a bag of cement cost around 100,000 kyats in April.
However, since early May, the price has risen sharply, reaching up to 230,000 kyats per bag, according to local sources.
A cement trader told Border News Agency, ‘‘It’s because the border trade routes have been closed. We can’t import like before—it’s difficult now. Even the wholesale price is around 150,000 kyats.’’
Most of the cement being sold in areas controlled by the Arakan Army is primarily imported from Bangladesh.
The Arakan-Bangladesh border trade has been suspended since April 13, and due to the halt in legal imports of goods including cement, prices have surged, according to residents of Maungdaw.
A trader from Maungdaw told Border News Agency, “Cement imports have completely stopped. Even the previously imported stock is almost gone. That’s why the prices have gone up taxes also play a role.”
Traders say that while a bag of cement costs only around 400 to 500 Bangladeshi taka in Bangladesh, the price rises due to increased taxation both at the Teknaf port before export and again on the Maungdaw side upon entry leading to higher market prices.
Residents say that goods are entering Arakan Army controlled areas through various routes from India, Bangladesh, and junta-controlled territories, using different means and methods.
However, traders in Arakan say that the route from Bangladesh via Teknaf Port remains the fastest and most convenient trade corridor.
In the final phase of the Arakan decisive war, the Arakan Army has fully captured and now controls 15 townships, including Paletwa, and is implementing administrative mechanisms under the banner of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
