Teknaf border shaken by airstrikes in Myanmar, fear of another influx of Rohingya

❐ Staff correspondent

The renewed conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has raised concerns about a Rohingya influx. In the past few days, the Myanmar military has carried out airstrikes targeting Arakan Army positions in Maungdaw city. These attacks have destroyed Arakan Army installations as well as Rohingya homes. As a result, there is a fear of infiltration of the terrified Rohingyas of Rakhine into Bangladesh in search of safety.

However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is on extra alert at the border to prevent a new influx of Rohingya.

According to local sources, the Myanmar military launched airstrikes on Arakan Army positions intermittently on Wednesday and Thursday to retake Rakhine State. The intensity of the attacks caused houses and villages on the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar to shake like an earthquake.

However, despite clashes inside Maungdaw city on Friday, no major noise was heard from the other side. These attacks are affecting not only the Arakan Army’s installations, but also the Rohingya living in Rakhine.

The conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military has created fear among the Rohingya. If they do not feel safe there, there is a fear of new infiltration into Bangladesh. Earlier, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya entered the country due to the conflict last year.

Md. Zubair, the leader of the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, said that numerous houses have been razed to the ground in the fierce airstrikes by the junta forces in Myanmar. Thousands of Rohingya have been newly displaced. At the same time, there are reports of fierce clashes between the Arakan Army and three other Rohingya armed groups on the ground.

The multi-faceted conflict is making the overall situation in Rakhine even more complex and unstable. He expressed concern that if the war becomes prolonged or intense, a large number of displaced people may find no other way out and head towards Bangladesh in search of refuge.

Forkan, a resident of Alikhali camp, said, “I learned from a relative in Maungdaw that the situation there is very tense now. No one is able to leave their homes easily. Many Rohingya are running in search of safe shelter. A year ago, during the conflict, lakhs of Rohingya infiltrated the Ukhia and Teknaf Rohingya camps step by step. We want our Rohingya brothers in Rakhine to be safe.”

Panic has spread in the Myanmar border area of ​​Cox’s Bazar as renewed conflict breaks out in Rakhine.

Bazlur Rahman, a resident of Shahparir Island in Teknaf, said, “Since Shahparir Island is very close to the border, the Arakan Army post can also be seen from here. On Wednesday, the intensity of the explosion in Rakhine on the other side of the island shook the houses like an earthquake. At that time, fear and panic spread among everyone.”

Ukhia’s Palangkhali UP Chairman M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury said, “Whenever conflict starts in Rakhine, panic arises on the other side. In addition to ammunition falling into houses in border villages, there is always a fear of Rohingya infiltration. After the conflict between the Arakan Army and the junta government began last year, millions of Rohingya have infiltrated Bangladesh. If conflict starts again, there is a fear of the remaining Rohingya in Rakhine also infiltrating Bangladesh.”

However, the BGB is on alert at the border to prevent a new influx of Rohingya. In addition to increasing surveillance, round-the-clock patrols have been increased in the border areas.

Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md. Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan said, ‘Although the explosion on the other side has created concern among the locals, the border situation is normal. BGB is on the highest alert to deal with any situation. To this end, special patrols have been carried out in the Nightangpara, Baritali and Jadimora border areas of Teknaf Municipality, boat patrols on the Naf River, and surveillance has been increased across the border.’