Sound of heavy shooting along Bangladesh-Myanmar border sparks panic in Teknaf

Residents of Whykong union in Teknaf upazila reported sound of heavy gunfire from Myanmar on Friday night and Saturday morning amid clashes between security forces and rebel group Arakan Army.

Nur Ahmed Anwari, chairman of Whykong union said, “Sound of heavy gunfire was heard across the border last night. From this morning today, the intensity of the gunfight increased.”

Locals are rushing to safety and fish farmers cannot go to the fish enclosure, he said.

Around 12 pm on Saturday, a mortar shell landed on the Bangladesh side of the border in Naikhongchhari upazila’s Tumbru border region, said Ghundum UP Chairman Jahangir Aziz.

“Although the border was calm for the last two days, clashes have started again from today,” he said.

A tense situation has been prevailing along the border between Bandarban‍‍`s Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum and Tumbru amid fierce fighting, skirmishes and gunfire between the armed forces of the military junta and insurgent groups inside Myanmar for two weeks.

Over 300 Myanmar forces and border guards have so far taken shelter in Bangladesh as of Wednesday noon in the wake of conflicts along the border.

Meanwhile, two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Monday.