Once a bustling hub of cross-border commerce, the Teknaf Land Port has now fallen eerily silent. For over three and a half months, all import-export activities between Bangladesh and Myanmar through the port have come to a standstill—leaving more than 1,500 workers jobless and millions worth of goods stuck on both sides of the Naf River.
Since 1995, Teknaf Land Port has been a key point for bilateral trade with Myanmar, facilitating the import of frozen fish, dry fish, onions, tamarind, pickles, and various plastic goods, while exporting cement, potatoes, local fabrics, and plastic pipes. But rising internal conflict in Myanmar—particularly between government forces and the Arakan Army in the Rakhine State—has spilled over into economic paralysis along the border.
Over time, tensions escalated to the point where Myanmar’s ports, including Mongdu, Akyab, and eventually Yangon, ceased trade operations with Teknaf. The Arakan Army, reportedly in control of several border areas, has intercepted cargo trawlers on the Naf River and obstructed shipment routes—freezing the entire trade channel.
Back in Teknaf, warehouses now house piles of unsold cement and rotting potatoes. “We have goods worth crores lying idle in the godown,” said a local trader, “and no one can tell when trade will resume.” On the Myanmar side, Bangladeshi exporters face similar financial blockades, with shipments and payments stuck indefinitely.
Ehetashamul Haque Bahadur, General Secretary of the Teknaf C&F Agents Association, voiced concern over the prolonged disruption. “Businessmen, depending on the port, are in a dire situation. Resuming trade with Myanmar has become highly uncertain. Still, we are trying to find ways to reopen the route,” he said.
For daily wage laborers like Kamal Hossain, the situation is devastating. “Without work, I can’t support my family. I used to work here regularly, but now there’s nothing.”
The port has not received any official notice about the halt in trade, confirmed revenue officer Sohel Ahmed. However, the impact is reflected in numbers—the port, which generated Tk 640 crore in revenue in FY 2022-23 and Tk 400 crore in FY 2023-24, has recorded zero earnings in the last three and a half months.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Eheshan Uddin said the issue was raised in a recent meeting at the district commissioner’s office. “We’ve informed the higher authorities about the current situation of the port,” he stated.
As hopes for resumption fade, businesses hang in limbo, workers struggle to survive, and Teknaf—once a symbol of vibrant border trade—faces a future clouded by uncertainty and geopolitical tension.
