Border forces are lenient in this regard to keep flow of items during the Ramadan, traders said.

The Bangladesh-Myanmar border stretches about 100 kilometres from Teknaf in Ukhia to Naikhongchhari in Bandarban.

Traders said, at some points, law enforcers even help them bring essentials and cows from Myanmar.

A top BDR official in Teknaf, said they were instructed verbally to ease restriction regarding flow of food items during the Ramadan.

But customs officials said they are not aware about "opening up of the border".

Revenue earning at Teknaf land port has decreased because of almost free flow of essentials, customs officials there said. Taking advantage of alleged lax vigilance by border guards, traders have hoarded large quantities of different items in places close to Teknaf border. But they are hesitating to supply those to other districts fearing seizure by customs officials, they said.

Teknaf Border Traders Association President Md Hashim said traders are bringing in large quantities of food items including fish from Myanmar but facing hurdles to supply those to other districts.

On investigation, it was gathered that traders imported 130 tonnes of pelom (one kind of pulse), 321 tonnes of 'mush kalai' (pulse), 156 tonnes of coriander, 453 tonnes of gram and 737 tonnes of cumin through Teknaf port last month.

Teknaf Customs Inspector Nu-Chha-Pru Marma said some BDR members recently deposited Tk 33,500 against 73 cows (Tk 500 for each cow). But he is unaware about the destination of the cows.

A top official of 40 Rifles Battalion in Naikhongchhari also admitted that 73 and 67 cows were allowed on two occasions through one border point.

He said inflow of goods has been eased ad there is 'instruction' to continue it till the Eid-ul-Fitr. Traders can bring essential commodities like gram, pulse, rice, onions and cows, he said. But this of not at liberty as traders have to keep BDR personnel informed, he said.

Customs officials seized four trucks carrying pulse and spices worth about Tk 25 lakh at Balukhali in Ukhia on Teknaf-Cox's Bazar Road last week.

Trader Md Ayub Prokash of Teknaf who owned the goods and was taking those to Chittagong said BDR and police did not obstruct him but customs officials seized the tucks.

Md Mokarram Hossain, assistant commissioner of customs, here said the district administration instructed him to seize goods brought in without permission from customs department.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Aminul Islam said he is not aware of such flow of goods through the border. "It will be unfair to bring in goods evading land port because this will increase smuggling", he said.