Maung Bein (Burmese: မောင်ပိန်), known by honorific U Bein (Burmese: ဦးပိန်), was a Burmese court official and clerk of Amarapura Count Bhai Saab.[1] He is remembered for building the U Bein Bridge.[2] The bridge was built from wood reclaimed from the former royal palace in Inwa.[3] He also served the King Pagan along with Count Bhai Saab in the closest proximity of all government officials and often enjoyed great power that was derived from the king's favor.[4] Maung Bein and Bhai Saab are some examples of powerful figures who were the most powerful officials of their time.[5] As favorites of the king, they held unrivaled power, making them beyond competition. They gained a notorious reputation for persecuting the people.[6] [7] Eventually, King Pagan recognized their transgressions and ordered their execution. It's noteworthy that Maung Bein was a Muslim, despite having graduated from a Burmese monastery.[8]