Narinjara News, July 30, 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) has temporarily prohibited heavy trucks from using the Buthidaung-Maungdaw route, a vital trade route with Bangladesh, after severe rainfall and erosion caused some portions to collapse. 

"AA has outlawed heavy trucks in an effort to prevent additional collapses, which is a positive thing, If the route collapses even further, it will be quite difficult to fix,” a local trader said.

According to locals, the entire route may collapse if the landslides brought on by the severe rains in Rakhine (Arakan) in June and July that caused landslides in certain areas of the Buthidaung-Maungdaw road are not fixed in time.

"The AA is attempting to fix the broken roadways. However, the equipment is insufficient. Technical restrictions apply as well. Furthermore, the damaged roads cannot be fixed in time due to the exorbitant expense, he said.

The Buthidaung-Maungdaw route is only 16 miles long and is situated on the commerce route with Bangladesh, making it a route used by people, but trade with Bangladesh is now at a standstill due to the war and inadequate border security.

At present, though, fertilizers, cement, and building supplies are being imported from Bangladesh to Rakhine, while hardwoods like teak and cattle are being exported to Bangladesh via illegal routes.

Currently, large trucks are prohibited, but small cars like three-wheelers and light trucks are permitted.

Now over a century old, the Maungdaw-Buthidaung highway and railway were constructed by the American Florida Martin Company in 1916 and 1918 during the British colonial period.