Maungdaw, Arakan State :  Burma 's border security force is engaged in a lucrative business following damage to the Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road due to heavy rains over the last two weeks.
 
Nasaka personnel are carrying passengers on their motorcycles over a distance of five miles and taking Kyat 10,000 per head on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road . The Nasaka of Maungdaw town has been ferrying passengers as there are no cars plying on the road due to the damage. The Naska offers a 15 minute ride on their motorbikes to passengers. They have not reduced the charges although the passengers have complained to the concerned authorities, said a trader in Maungdaw town.
 
The Maungdaw-Buthidaung road was badly damaged due to heavy rain over the last two weeks. It is 16 miles long of which five miles have been totally destroyed and vehicles are not able to ply on the road.
 
Passengers are able to go up to seven miles by car from Maungdaw town and after that they have to travel five miles on Nasaka's motorcycles. And the rest four miles distance can be traversed by car again, said a passenger who went to  Buthidaung Town from Maungdaw Town .
 
Some bridges have also been destroyed from the seven mile point to the 12 mile point. Therefore labourers charge Kyat 500 to carry a 50 kilogram rice bag over the five mile distance.
 
Communication problems on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road have led to a price hike of essential commodities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. People are in dire straits and the authorities are not bothered, said ex-school teacher.
 
Villagers from both townships are forced to repair the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road without any support from the government. This season is important for farmers to grow paddy.

The road is a key transportation link between Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. Every year during the rainy season the road suffers blockages and bridges collapse but the authorities neglect to repair them in time.