It was delayed for more than a year following the sectarian violence in Arakan state.

At the meeting, they were discussions about the increasing border trade through imports and exports.

The Burmese delegation wants to import more cement and fertilizers from Bangladesh.  While the Bangladesh delegation said they would increase the export of chick peas, especially during Ramadan.

Bangladeshi businessmen will also be allowed to visit Akyab for 3 days, carrying up to Taka 50,000. They will also be permitted to use to Bangladeshi mobiles and laptops, according to Mohammed Nurul Boshir, the deputy commissioner (DC) that led the 19 member Bangladesh team.

The team also included the Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sha Mujahid Uddin, land port officers, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), a Teknaf Shunali Bank officer, immigration officers, a Frozen Food Association officer, CNF, Teknaf United Land Port Limited and other businessmen.  

U Soe Win Maung, Burma’s deputy director of the Border Trade Association, led the 18-member Burmese team.

The first Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Working Group for Border Trade meeting was held on May 2, 2011 at Teknat Rest House. The last meeting took place on May 2, 2012 in Akyab (Sittwe), just before the violence between Rakhine and Rohingyas erupted. Until recently, most of the border check points linking the 2 countries were closed.