Myanmar conflict shifts to Teknaf border amid shelling
Staff Reporter :
Gunfire and mortar shell explosions along the Bangladesh border have rattled nearby areas, instilling fear among locals as the conflict shifts from the tumultuous Tumbru area in Bandarban towards Teknaf.
Recent gunfire and mortar shell explosions along the Bangladesh border have sparked fear among locals as conflict shifts from the tumultuous Tumbru area in Bandarban towards Teknaf.
The proximity of Tekhnaf Upazila to the Myanmar border, merely 2 kilometers away, allows locals to witness the unfolding violence with the naked eye.
Lieutenant Colonel Aziz, an officer with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Cox’s Bazar Region, attributed the gunfire to ongoing clashes within Myanmar.
Amidst this turmoil, over the past five days, 330 Myanmar citizens, including members of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP), army, customs officials, and civilians, have sought refuge in Bangladesh, as confirmed by BGB headquarters officials.
Contrastingly, on Thursday, the BGB repatriated two Rohingyas back to Myanmar.
Meanwhile, residents of the Unchiprang area in Teknaf report that insurgent groups have seized outposts from Myanmar’s border security forces, pushing southward.
This has led to audible explosions in the Teknaf area, emanating from cities like Shilkhali, Bolibazar, and Kuirkhali in Myanmar.
Kamrul Islam, a local from Unchiprang, described the situation as hearing “heavy and terrifying sounds of gunfire and explosions” that make the area “tremble like thunder.”
“The area is trembling with these sounds. It feels like thunder. We haven’t heard such sounds before,” he said.
Basat Karim, a shrimp farmer near the border, recounted seeing people in black exchanging gunfire with Myanmar’s Nasaka (Border Guard Police) and mentioned the refuge of some on Bilari Island on the Bangladeshi side amidst continuous bomb attacks.
“I cultivate shrimp. My shrimp enclosures are located near the border in the Bangladeshi part adjacent to Myanmar. We can see what is happening in Myanmar with our own eyes,” he added.
Nur Muhammad Anwari, Chairman of the Hoikhyang Union Parishad, highlighted the impact on shrimp farmers near the border, with bullets hitting some houses and the fear of insurgents attacking outposts.
“In the areas of Unchiprang, Kanjardipara, and Kharangkhali Jhimonkhali, heavy and terrifying sounds of gunfire can be heard,” he added.
Rashid Ahmed, a member of Ward 3 of the Hoikhyang Union Parishad, also reported heavy gunfire across the border since Thursday evening, causing tremors in the area.
“Since Thursday evening, heavy and terrifying sounds of gunfire have been heard across the border in several areas of Myanmar. This has caused tremors in our area.”
Over 300 individuals from various Myanmar organizations have entered Bangladesh due to the ongoing conflict.
The BGB has disarmed them, provided safe shelter, and medical treatment to the injured.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday that preparations are underway to repatriate the Myanmar Border Guard Police, focusing on their safe and prompt return, as emphasized by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin.
In another incident, a mortar shell was recovered on Friday in the Tumbru Paschimkul area of Ghumdhum Union in Naikkhongchhari upazila, following the recovery of a disused mortar shell in the Noyapara area on February 8.
The Border Guard Bangladesh secured the shells, assumed to have been dropped by BGP members upon entering Bangladesh.
Abdul Mannan, the officer-in-charge of Naikkhongchhari Police Station, confirmed the recovery of the shells after locals working in the paddy fields reported them.”
