By: Camp Correspondent
Buthidaung, Rakhine — 30 June 2025 |
In parts of Arakan State currently under Arakan Army (AA) control, small denomination Myanmar currency notes—50, 100, and 200 kyats—are being widely rejected by local traders, causing daily hardship for residents with limited financial means.
Reports from Rathedaung, Maungdaw, and Buthidaung indicate that shopkeepers are refusing to accept small notes, even when customers offer them in bulk to meet higher prices.
“I tried to buy betel leaves worth 1,000 kyat using ten 100-kyat notes, but the seller told me to bring 500 or 1,000 kyat notes instead,” said a resident from Rathedaung, speaking to Rohingya Khobor. “They say the small notes are worthless now.”
The rejection of small currency comes amid a worsening economic crisis and rising inflation. With basic goods now costing significantly more, residents say that smaller notes have become practically unusable.
“You can’t buy anything with 100 or 200 kyats anymore,” said a resident from Maungdaw. “Even a small snack costs 500 kyat, and most of those snacks are imported from Bangladesh.”
Local vendors are also facing difficulties. Many shopkeepers now refuse small notes outright, saying they have no means to recirculate them in the market.
“People give me small notes, but I can’t use them again,” said a shopkeeper in Buthidaung. “No one wants to accept them anymore. I now tell customers to bring only 500 or 1,000 kyat notes.”
The trend reflects a deeper economic instability in the region, especially in areas cut off from formal banking services and dependent on informal trade routes. Residents worry that even larger notes may lose functionality if the situation continues to deteriorate.
For families already struggling to meet basic needs, the loss of value in lower denomination currency is adding another layer of financial pressure—making it harder to buy daily essentials, save money, or engage in small-scale trade.
