The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) opened a branch office in Maungdaw today at 9 am, said a teacher who attended the inaugural ceremony.

The office is situated in old Maungdaw hospital building and the signboard was put in the place of the old hospital signboard, he said.

At the inaugural ceremony, the district secretary, Htun Hla Sein delivered the opening speech and explained the role of the USDP in the forthcoming election, he added.

The office will be the base for organizational work and poll campaign in Maungdaw district, according to Htun Hla Sein.

More than 200 Arakanese Rohingya and 100 Arakanese Rakhine attended the inaugural ceremony, said an officer in Maungdaw.

Htun Hla Sein did not announce the name of any candidate or names of the Maungdaw district committee members. The people are unhappy because of the hidden agenda of the party, said a local in Maungdaw.

The USDP invited more than 1000 residents in Maungdaw to attend the inaugural ceremony, the local said.