Staff Reporter :
In a desperate bid for safety, at least 63 individuals from Myanmar, including members of its Border Guard Police (BGP), army personnel, customs officials, and civilians, sought refuge in Bangladesh on Wednesday, crossing the border in Cox’s Bazar’s Ulubaniya union.
The entire border area is trembling with the sounds of gunfire, mortar shells, and bomb explosions due to the ongoing conflict within Myanmar, forcing the locals to leave their houses for safety.
Meanwhile, this intrusion of Myanmar individuals brings the total number of fleeing individuals to 327 this week alone, Md Shariful Islam, the public relations officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters said on Wednesday.
BGB sources said that the 63 individuals entered Bangladesh crossing the border in Cox’s Bazar’s Ulubaniya union. They have surrendered their weapons and are now under the custody of the BGB.
Meanwhile, in a press briefing after visiting borders in Bandarban on Wednesday, Director General of BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui stated that Myanmar is prepared to repatriate the 264 individuals who have sought refuge in Bangladesh.
He further stated that no unauthorised individual will be allowed to enter Bangladesh illegally.
The BGB chief emphasised that the border situation remains fully under the control of BGB.
“We are following the directives of the Prime Minister to have patience, maintain humaneness. We want to uphold international relations while striving to address the situation,” he said.
Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) is prepared to make the utmost sacrifices to protect the sovereignty of the country in any border situation, he said.
He has also recommended suspension of any ship movement on the naval route to Saint Martin amid the escalation of conflicts on Myanmar border.
“Under the current situation, ship movement to Saint Martin is deemed risky,” he said.
Later, he sought information about the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State from the BGP, Myanmar Army, police, immigration officials, and other agencies who had taken refuge here.
Previously, he inspected the Tumburu and Ghumdhum sectors of the border in Bandarban. During the inspection, senior officials of BGB, including the regional commander of Cox’s Bazar, the sector commander of Ramu, and other officers of Cox’s Bazar Battalion, were present.
The BGB reports that there has been increased patrolling and check-posts in border areas.
No Rohingya are being allowed to enter Bangladesh. The BGB is maintaining constant vigilance for the country’s interests along the border.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating within Myanmar as clashes intensify between government forces and insurgents.
Border violations have led to gunfire and mortar shells landing in Bangladesh.
Already, two Bangladeshis have been killed and several others injured in these incidents.
Consequently, fear and panic have gripped the residents of seven villages in the Noyakshyongchhari Union of Bandarban.
Anwar Hossen, the member of Ward No. 5 of the Noyakshyongchhari Union, confirmed the situation on Tuesday evening.
He informed that a shelter center has been opened at the North Ghumdhum Government Primary School. Since Monday night, more than a hundred people from forty households in seven villages have taken shelter there.
In response to the existing situation, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shah Mujahid Uddin has directed the safe return of 240 families from the border areas of Naikhongchhari in Bandarban.
During a border inspection visit to Naikhongchhari on Wednesday afternoon, the District Commissioner stated that due to the ongoing situation within Myanmar along the Bandarban-Myanmar border, instructions have been issued to provide safe shelter to 240 families residing in the highly vulnerable areas along the border.
Additionally, until the situation returns to normalcy, boarding schools are advised to remain closed, and everyone is urged to remain vigilant rather than alarmed.
Fear has spread across the bordering areas starting from the Ghumdhum Union of Bandarban to the Palangkhali Union of Ukhia Upazila in Cox’s Bazar, extending to the Hwaikhyang and Hnila Unions in Teknaf.
The terrifying sounds of gunfire and mortar shells have instilled panic in all directions. Especially, the deaths of two people on the Tumbru border have doubled the fear.
The local residents reported that they were living in panic and lives and livelihoods have become difficult for them as they are failing to go for work in the shops and agricultural fields.
The continuous conflicts have created much concern as innumerable numbers of Rohingya and Chakma on Myanmar border are waiting to intrude Bangladesh in a bid to escape the mortar shelling and bullet firing.