Daily necessities are being smuggled into Rakhine

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State has led to a severe shortage of daily essential commodities, which is currently being met through smuggling from Bangladesh. Multiple syndicates comprising both Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya refugees are illegally transporting these goods across the border into the volatile territory. The smuggling is primarily carried out via maritime routes.

According to Coast Guard officials, goods are transported from Hatia, Sandwip, Banshkhali, Patenga, and Moheshkhali through the deep sea, crossing the Kutubdia Channel and Saint Martin's Island to reach the Myanmar border via the Naf River. The smuggled items include potatoes, sugar, edible oil, onions, diesel, cigarettes, electronics, urea fertilizer, and cement. Notably, Bangladesh imports six of these commodities, including sugar, edible oil, and diesel, using its hard-earned foreign currency. The illegal outflow of these imported goods deprives the government of revenue and yields no diplomatic benefits.

Analyzing the situation, retired Major Emdadul Islam, former Head of Mission of the Bangladesh Consulate in Myanmar, stated that after the rebel group Arakan Army seized control, the military junta blocked the three internal supply routes to Rakhine—An, Magway, and Bago. As these routes have been blocked for a year, the internal supply chain has completely collapsed, leaving Rakhine with no alternative but to rely on smuggled goods from Bangladesh.

The Arakan Army has been controlling about 80 percent of Rakhine State, including the Maungdaw Township, for the past year and a half. They also maintain a strong presence along the 270-kilometer Bangladesh-Myanmar border. The International Crisis Group reports that a famine-like situation is looming over the state's population of nearly 3.5 million due to the ongoing instability.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Mahmood Sujon, Media Officer at Coast Guard Headquarters, noted that the demand for fuel oil and cement is currently the highest in Rakhine. He explained that fuel is being transferred to Rakhine from various lighter vessels and oil tankers at sea. Over the past year, the Coast Guard has seized 30,000 liters of fuel oil and cement worth nearly Tk120 million. Several syndicates have been linked to these operations, and efforts are underway to identify them.

Over a 15-month period from January 2025 to March 2026, the Coast Guard seized smuggled goods worth approximately Tk1.67 billion. In a recent operation on April 26, the Coast Guard confiscated 900 sacks of cement from a boat in the deep sea near Saint Martin's Island. Thirteen individuals were arrested during the raid, including Azim Ullah, a resident of the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Ukhia. The Coast Guard has gathered intelligence indicating that several trawler owners, boatmen, and traders are operating this Myanmar-bound smuggling network under Azim's leadership.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir said the 'Azim Syndicate' had been smuggling cement specifically to the Arakan Army. He stated that several of the arrested individuals confessed to being in contact with the rebel group and confirmed the cement was bound for them. Information regarding financial transactions worth millions of taka in this smuggling operation has also been uncovered.

Law enforcement officials added that they have received reports indicating the Arakan Army is using this cement to construct bunkers, weapon depots, and other concrete structures for self-defense and guerrilla attacks. However, retired Major Emdadul Islam expressed skepticism about this particular claim, noting that it is highly unlikely for the rebel group to construct permanent garrisons while evading the Myanmar military's surveillance. He pointed out that sand and soil are generally more effective and safer than cement for building tactical bunkers.

Anti-smuggling operations have seen significant seizures recently. In the first four months of 2026, the Eastern Zone Coast Guard prevented the smuggling of nearly 5,000 sacks of cement to Myanmar, following the seizure of 13,446 sacks in 2025. Furthermore, joint operations by the Navy, Coast Guard, BGB, RAB, and Police between July 2024 and June 2025 led to the confiscation of 1,712 sacks of urea, 900 sacks of potatoes and onions, 16,200 liters of fuel oil, and 940 sacks of cement, resulting in the detention of over fifty smugglers.

Mohammad Shamim Kabir, Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) in Cox's Bazar, explained that the ongoing war has cut off supplies for both the civilian population and the Arakan Army in Rakhine. Profiteers are exploiting Rohingya refugees—leveraging their language skills and personal connections with Rakhine residents—to facilitate this illegal trade.

To curb this network, authorities are taking strict legal action. Nazmul Hasan, Additional DIG of the Chittagong Range Police, confirmed that directives have been issued to investigate the 47 smuggling cases filed in Cox's Bazar over the last four months with the highest priority.