Dbarta24 Business Desk — Amid ongoing civil conflict and an acute foreign currency crunch in Myanmar, Bangladesh is moving to streamline cross-border trade by permitting exporters to accept payments routed through third countries, including Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
The National Revenue Board (NBR) is set to approve a formal request from domestic trader A1 Fish and Marine Food, which sought permission to clear payment for goods bound for Myanmar using financial channels in third nations.
The move aligns with a 2018 Bangladesh Bank circular that legally permits export settlements through alternate jurisdictions to prevent trade bottlenecks.
Myanmar’s severe dollar crisis, compounded by damaged infrastructure and a disrupted domestic banking system—including the closure of Sonali Bank’s branch in the country—has made direct payments through local channels nearly impossible.
Despite these operational hurdles, demand for Bangladeshi essential commodities like cement, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, yarn, and energy drinks has surged in Myanmar’s border regions.
“Many wealthy Myanmar business owners reside in Thailand and Singapore, allowing them to clear invoices from those jurisdictions. This is fully compliant with international trade regulations. Due to the war, Myanmar faces a banking breakdown alongside its severe foreign exchange deficit.”— S.M. Nurul Haq, Former President, Bangladesh-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Export performance data reflects this growing demand. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported $38.9 million worth of goods to Myanmar in FY2025–26, up from $34.8 million in FY2024–25. Most of these shipments transit through the Teknaf land port in Cox’s Bazar.
While security concerns remain—such as restrictions on cement shipments due to fears of military misuse—traders view the payment flexibility as a vital lifeline.
Local business leaders also point to long-term growth opportunities, including the proposed China-Myanmar-Chittagong Economic Corridor, which could reduce transit lead times from 10 days down to a single day once geopolitical stability returns to the region.