Trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar is likely to remain stable despite the two countries being locked in dispute over the Rohingya crisis, stakeholders have said. Around 536,000 displaced Rohingya have fled Rakhine state for Bangladesh since August 25, when alleged insurgent attacks on security officials in the region triggered a renewed military crackdown. However, the increasing trade deficit shows that the influx of displaced Rohingya is not affecting trade between the two countries, and Bangladesh is yet to take any measures to suspend trade with Myanmar because of the issue. According to local businesspeople, most of the bilateral trade between Myanmar and Bangladesh took place in the Maungdaw township. As such, Bangladeshi businesspeople who used to trade with Maungdaw in Myanmar are now sitting idle.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 17, 2017 16:20 UTC