The sound of heavy gunfire has been heard from across the border in Myanmar has unsettled residents in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya and Bandarban’s Ghumdhum.
The gunshots were reported from at least seven villages near the border from 11pm on Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
The residents of Rahmater Bil, Dhamonkhali, Thaingkhali, and Balukhai in Ukhiya and Tambru Paschimpara in Bandarban’s Ghumdhum spent a sleepless night anxious about the violence close to them.
Locals said that the gunfire became intermittent around 2:30am on Friday.
The fighting seemed to be at its fiercest between 11pm and 1am, they said.
Lt Col Mohammad Jashim Uddin, captain of the Ukhiya 64 Border Guard Bangladesh said that gunshots were heard across the border near the Balukhali BOP. The border security force then stepped up patrols in the area.
The BGB official said, “We are monitoring the situation while staying on alert. The situation at the border is calm for now.”
The anxiety was apparent in Thaingkhali teacher Kamruddin Mukul’s voice when he said, “I heard a lot of gunfire at night. We think a large clash is ongoing on the other side. I’ve never heard such sounds before.”
Local NGO worker Sifat Al Noor echoed the experience. He said, “We heard what sounded like a war going on.”
Leaders from several Rohingya camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf say a clash is taking place across the border in the Dhekubania area of Myanmar’s Maungdaw district between armed Rohingya groups and the Arakan Army, which controls Rakhine state.
Palangkhali Union council Chairman Gafur Uddin Chowdhury claimed in his Facebook post, “A Rohingya seeking refuge at the temporary Rohingya Camp No. 12 has been injured by bullets shot from Myanmar.”
Asked about the claim a Rohingya person had been injured, Lt Col Jashim said: “We have not received a report of a bullet being fired into Bangladesh. The camp is located far from the border.”
Clashes between government forces and the Arakan Army have escalated recently in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
In December 2024, the Arakan Army claimed control of the 271km-stretch of the Rakhine section of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. It has maintained control of the area since.
