Maungdaw, Arakan State: Local people from Maungdaw fear for their livelihoods after sole agent tenders were announced on March 3, according to a trader from Maungdaw.
“The tender price is more than twice than last year and the sole agents will collect more fees on consumer goods.”
The cost of Kyat 1.2 million for slaughter license – sole agent, is no different from last year. However, the market and wheel and road licenses are going for more than double the price of last year, a businessman from Maungdaw said.
“Kyat 11.8 million for market license which was 5.8 million and Kyat 16 million for wheel and road license which was 8.6 million last year,” he said.
The agents are:MaungMaungSein forslaughter , Than Khey alias Paungmay for market and MaungMaungZaw for wheel and road,
Kyaw Saw, an ex-military intelligence officer tried to control the market, wheel and road sectors and asked former agents to give him ten million kyat for not getting involved in the sole agent auction (tenders) sale, according to an officer who was involved in the tender sale.
Kyaw Saw, the agent of the fishing sector in Maungdaw south,is accused of harassing the fishermen with help from authorities. Most fishermen lost their business due to high toll collecting, according to observers. He is accused ofnow trying to control and harass the Rohingya businessmen of Maungdaw with this sole agent system.
The Arakan state economic minister and the head officer of Akyab municipality were present along with other officials during the tender sale program, which was held at theThirimangala Hall in Maungdaw.
