Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bangladesh has earned over Taka 690 million as revenue by exporting and importing goods to Bangladesh and from Burma in the 2007-08 fiscal year. The target was over Taka 950 million, from Burma-Bangladesh border trade through the Teknaf Land Port, according to a customs officer in Teknaf.

Bangladesh's fiscal year (FY) is from July 2007 to June 2008.

Bangladesh failed to earn as much revenue as it did in 2006-07, after starting border trade through Teknaf, sources said.

Bangladesh authorities were unable to earn the targeted revenue during 2007-08 because of Cyclone "Nargis", the constitutional referendum, political unrest in Burma while some border traders were arrested and faced some difficulties in delivering goods in Teknaf land port.

Besides, there was a rumor that fish exported from Burma were coated with formalin and chlorine which affects human health. It led to a fall in export of fish from Burma.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR), targeted to earn over Taka 7.9 million per month from Teknaf land port, so their estimate was to earn over Taka 950 million in 2007-08 fiscal year. But, the concerned authorities from Teknaf land port were unable to meet the target. As a result, they lost about 250 million in revenue from Teknaf land port in 2007-08.

Bangladesh got most of the revenue from fish export to Burma, but after the Cyclone Nargis in Burma, the revenue decreased significantly, said custom superintendent Anwar Hussain.

Teknaf border trade began in September 5, 1995. Then import of goods from Burma was higher than exports.  But at present the difference between export and import is minimal.