Maungdaw Border Trade Camp resumed trade activities on January 1 after Bangladesh had closed its ports for three days during the election period.

Port workers were off-duty during the Bangladeshi elections from December 28 to December 30. As soon as trade resumed on January 1, three motorboats carrying goods including freshwater fish left Maungdaw Port.

Merchants, however, said they had to wait for loading of goods onto the ships as not all port workers did not show up on that day.

"On January 1, we sent three motorboats carrying freshwater fish, dried fish and plum jams. But merchants said only a shipload of goods could be sent because of few Bangladeshi port workers. The remaining ships have to wait for tomorrow. Our side has resumed trade activities today," said Thar Tun Sein, assistant director of Maungdaw Border Trade Camp.

The trade camp exports freshwater fish and dried fish as major items to Bangladesh. Last month, border export value reached over US$600,000.