Fatal mine blast claims three lives
Three Bangladeshi nationals have been killed in a landmine explosion at the Ghumdhum border in Naikhongchhari Upazila of Bandarban. The incident occurred around 11:30 AM on Sunday near the area adjacent to pillar number 42 at the zero point of the Myanmar border in Baishfari, Ghumdhum Union.
The commanding officer of BGB’s 34th Battalion based in Cox’s Bazar, Lieutenant Colonel S.M. Khairul Alam, confirmed the information.
The deceased have been identified as Akyamong Tangchangya (40), son of Nyamong Tangchangya; Chikyang Tangchangya (34), son of the late Wimong Tangchangya; and Shaifuching Tangchangya (32), son of Suni Ong Tangchangya. All three were residents of Balukya Para in Ward No. 8 of Ghumdhum Union.
Police and locals said the three men went to work in a banana plantation near the area adjacent to pillar 42 in the Tumru no-man’s-land on Sunday afternoon. At that point, a landmine buried in the border area suddenly exploded, killing Akyamong Tangchangya. When the other two went to rescue him, they were also killed in a second mine explosion.
Upon receiving news of the incident, police from Naikhongchhari Police Station along with BGB personnel rushed to the scene.
Naikhongchhari Upazila Executive Officer Enamul Hasan confirmed the incident. He said that restrictions on movement along the border are in place from both BGB and the upazila administration, but many people ignored these warnings and ventured into the border area, leading to this tragedy. The bodies of those killed in the mine blasts have been recovered.
Union Parishad member of Ghumdhum Ward No. 8, Babul Chakma, said the three had gone to work in the banana plantation on the Myanmar border side in the morning. On their way back, one was killed in a mine explosion, and when the others went to rescue him, two more were killed in another blast. A shadow of grief has fallen over the families.
Locals said the three had gone into the hills to work in the banana garden in the morning. When news of the explosion spread, a group of locals made their way through difficult mountain terrain and reached the scene around 2:30 PM, where they found the three bodies lying there.
Following the incident, a pall of grief has descended over Bhalukiyapara and surrounding villages near the border, and fear grips the area. BGB has called on the general public to exercise utmost caution when moving through high-risk border areas.
Naikhongchhari Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haq said three people were killed in the mine explosion at the Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum border. Their bodies are being recovered and brought to hospital, and legal action will be taken after an investigation, he added.
