Teknaf house hit by Myanmar firing amid conflict in Rakhine

A house at Teknaf along the border in Cox’s Bazar has been hit by a firing of bullet from Myanmar amid reports of relentless clashes between the army and armed rebel groups, reports bdnews24.com.

Fear gripped the area on Sunday after a bullet pierced through the gate of Nurul Islam’s house in ward No. 1 under Hoaikyong Union Council on Saturday afternoon.

Nurul said Border Guard Bangladesh personnel later took away the bullet.

Commanding Officer Lt Col Saiful Islam Chowdhury of the 34 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion, based in Cox's Bazar, said in a press release that thirteen mortar shells and one bullet landed on the Bangladesh side during the clash in Myanmar on Saturday, said a local newspaper.

Bangladesh’s BGB immediately protested the incident through a letter to the Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP).

Meanwhile, Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahmed told bdnews24.com, “We’re on maximum alert along the border to prevent fresh intrusion after hearing the news of firing on the other side.”

“We’ve been in difficulties to stay home as shelling from Myanmar is hitting the Sirajul Mustafa Lalu, a member of Hoaikyong Union Council said, the residents of the area are passing their days in difficulties because of intense fighting on the other side of the border.

Sounds of shelling and unfire can be heard in the Ulubonia, Tulatuli and Kanjarpara areas, he said.

“We can’t even go to our shrimp farms.”

Gunshots are mostly heard in the morning and in the evening, according to Abdus Salam, a member of Shahpari’s Island Union Council

Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Maj Gen A K M Nazmul Hasan on Sunday directed the all levels BGB members to perform their duties with utmost professionalism as well as to be remained highest alert to deal with any situation arising at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, reports UNB.

The BGB DG came up with the directives while exchanged views with BGB members of all levels after visited Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts to monitor the border situation on Sunday.

The top officer of the paramilitary force BGB visited Palangkhali Border Outpost (BOP) of Ukhia under Cox's Bazar Battalion (34 BGB) and Tumbru BOP and Ghumdhum border area of Naikhyongchhari in Bandarban and Hoikang BOP under Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) and adjacent border areas.

Recently, the conflict situation is going on all over neighbouring country Myanmar. The impact of which has also reached the Rakhine state of Myanmar, adjacent to the Bangladesh border.There are constant reports of unstable conditions and conflict situations. Consequently the DG BGB visited the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts to monitor the border situation.