KALADAN NEWS

Dated: Saturday, February 14, 2004

Seasonal fruits from Arakan

Teknaf Feb, 14: Seasonal fruits from Arakan are daily entering into Bangladesh in huge quantity under border trade through Teknaf, said a trader from Teknaf.

Everyday, the traders carry several boats of watermelon into the border town of Teknaf. The Bangladesh southern district of Cox’s Bazar has now become the main center of the sale of watermelon from Arakan, he further said.

The Arakan watermelons are cheaper and testy and so it affects the local watermelon growers, said a local watermelon grower.

Despite complaints by the local Bangladeshi farmers, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR- Bangladesh border security force), customs and police have paid little attention to the matter, the suffering of the local people, he further said.

It may be mentioned that on 3rd February 2004, 4 trawlers carrying Arakan watermelon were looted by local villagers on reaching at the costal bank of Shunarpara under Ukhiya police station of Cox’s Bazar district, said another trader.

Seasonal fruits like mangoes, pickles, jackfruits, watermelon, etc. are coming from Arakan into Bangladesh through out the year, he further added.