Cox’s Bazar: With the fresh influx of Rohingyas, the local business has received a big boost, reports the UNB.

In Rohingya camps of Kutupalang, Jamtali and Balukhali areas, many small shops can be found now having almost all kinds of essential products such as bananas, vegetables, chips, biscuits, cold drinks, juice, snacks and so on.

Jahanara, a local who lives nearby and owns a small shop in the Jamtali camp area, said it has been one month since she started the shop. Every day, she sells products worth Tk 3,000-Tk 4,000 on an average.

Asked from whom she hired the place for setting up the shop, she said that she did not take anyone’s permission for this and she does not pay any rent for it.

Nur Alam, another local who started his shop 15 days ago, echoed Jahanara.

The sale of bamboos has increased here as there is a huge demand of it for building new shelters and mosques in camps.

Abul Kalam, a local bamboo seller, said he sells bamboos of Tk 10,000-Tk 25,000 on an average per day.

Initially, the bamboos were used to be supplied from Ukhia, but now the bamboos are also being supplied from Teknaf and Bandarban, said President of Ukhia Station Bazar Traders’ Association Md Ekramul Haque.

While the bamboos were used to be sold at Tk 70-Tk 80 each, now they are being sold at Tk 300, he added.

Both locals and Rohingya people were seen setting up small shops in the camp areas and selling products—be it snack or wood to fire the ovens.