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]