Staff Reporter :
Amid the escalating conflicts in Myanmar, members of the Junta military and Rohingya civilians are seeking refuge inside Bangladesh territory to escape the violence.
Early Friday morning, two Myanmar military Junta members and 31 Rohingya individuals sought refuge on St. Martin’s Island amid the ongoing conflict between the military and insurgents in the town of Maungdaw.
The 33 individuals are now under the custody of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard.
Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of Saint Martin Union Parishad, informed the media that clashes have been ongoing across the Teknaf border for several days. The nearby areas are reverberating with the violent sounds of explosions.
In such circumstances, these individuals boarded a boat early in the morning to reach Saint Martin’s Island to save their lives. This matter has been communicated to the BGB.
Adnan Chowdhury, the Upazila Executive Officer of Teknaf, confirmed that 33 Rohingya individuals have taken refuge on Saint Martin’s Island and are in contact with the BGB.
The arrival of new Rohingya refugees has intensified vigilance along the border and at the Naf River by the BGB and the Coast Guard.
On Friday afternoon, clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s armed forces were reported in the border area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, accompanied by terrifying sounds of mortar shells and heavy gunfire. This has escalated tensions among the border residents.
Locals reported that the intense sounds of gunfire have not ceased along the border, indicating that the conflict in Myanmar has been ongoing for several months. Consequently, fear persists among the residents living near the border due to the sporadic gunfire.
Lieutenant Colonel Mahiuddin Ahmed, commander of the Teknaf-2 BGB battalion, stated that the BGB and Coast Guard members are patrolling day and night from Hoaikhyang in Teknaf upazila to Shahparir Dwip, covering a distance of 54 kilometers along the Naf River. This patrolling continues actively to manage any situation.