Narinjara News, 26 January 2023

A ceremony marking the 197th anniversary of the founding of Sittwe (Akyab) citywas organised on Wednesday evening in the capital city.
Mentionable is that Sittwe was founded by the British on 12 January 1826 (5thof Tabodwe month in 1187 according to the Rakhine calendar). The ceremony wasplanned according to the Rakhine calendar.
“A lighting event along with the Rakhine traditional wrestling in Mizan Wardwas also organized by Thaki Mandai Rakhine culture group,” said U Kyaw ZanMaung, an organizer, adding that although the ceremony was brief, it includedtraditional dances too.

Sittwe (earlier Akyab) was created by the British Governors Patton and Dickensonalong with the Arakanese leaders namely Prince Shwe Bang, Day Kyung Kyaw Cheeand city chief Aung Kyaw Zang.
British forces occupied Rakhine in 1824 and they realised that the formercapital city of Mrauk U was not suitable for administrative initiatives. Hencethey moved to the present location and built
Sittwe.
In 1826, after the first Anglo-Burmese war, the British transferred the seat ofgovernment to Sittwe. During the first 40 years of British rule, the cityemerged from a village with 15,536 inhabitants. By 1901, it was the third portof Burma with a population of 31,687
In 1860, the Kolkata-based consulate general of the United States decided tohave another consular agency in Sittwe.] During the colonial days, Sittweearned a bad reputation of being frequently infected by the malaria and choleradiseases. The historical records indicate that Sittwe was no better or worsecity than many other locations along the coast.

Sittwe had a high economy during the British era and it also topped theeducation sector.
After the independence of Myanmar, Sittwe's economy had gone down primarilybecause of political discrimination as well as the oppressive rule of the Uniongovernment in Rangoon.

After the 1962 military coup, the Rakhine State's economy was in a bad shape.
The capital city has 31 wards where 0.2 millions people live. Sittwe continuesto be the capital of Arakan State and it preserves the proud cultural traditionof the Rakhine people.
But lately, the city has been plagued by incidents of robbery. The use ofillegal drugs among the young people is also reported. The Sittwe residentsstill demand that it should be modernized and made a progressive city thatrespects the law of the land.