The value of the Burmese currency fell on the Burma-Bangladesh border after the Burmese authorities increased its servants’ salaries this month, said a currency dealer from a border town in Bangladesh.

Currently, a Bangladesh taka is equivalent to 19.5 Burmese kyats in the border area, but the value of the taka was equivalent to 16.5 kyats two weeks ago.

According to sources, it is first time this year that the value of the Burmese currency decreased like this.

Since the value of the Burmese currency fell, many kinds of Burmese goods have entered into Bangladesh, both legally and illegally, through border points along Naff River.

A trader from Teknaf said that Burmese goods, whichever they are, are sold to make a profit in Bangladesh because the value of the Burmese currency fells as compared to the Bangladesh currency.

Many traders from Arakan State are bringing a number of Burmese goods to Bangladesh hoping for good profits.

The goods that are entering Bangladesh include timber, bamboo, longji, slippers, women’s utensils, rice, salt, plum, preserved fruit (Zitawfi), baby toys, Burmese-made sculptures, alcohol and whiskey, fish and shrimp.