Teknaf fisherman wounded by cross-border gunfire as explosions shake homes, spark panic

Staff Correspondent

Panic has spread again at the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar. The sounds of intermittent gunfire and bomb explosions from across the Naf River have caused extreme anxiety among people living in the border area. Residents said that the sounds shook their homes throughout the day on Friday.

In this situation, a fisherman was shot while fishing in the Naf River in Teknaf Upazila.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been on high alert along the border since the shooting incident in the Uttarpara border area of ​​Hoiyang on Friday morning. At the same time, the local administration has instructed fishermen and border residents to be alert.

The injured fisherman, Md. Alamgir (31), was injured in a gunshot from Myanmar while fishing for fish and crabs in the Naf River on Thursday evening. The bullet went through his hand and exited.

Alamgir, a resident of Balukhali village, adjacent to the Hoiyang BGB camp in Teknaf, has been admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Locals said that gunfire could be heard in the border area on Thursday night. Although the situation remained calm for some time, after 10 am on Friday, intense clashes broke out between the two sides in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on the other side of the Hwai Kyung border. As the day progressed, the sound of multiple powerful bomb explosions shook the homes on the other side.

Md. Alamgir, the injured fisherman

Akbar Hossain, a resident of the Hoi Kyung border, said he was in fear all night due to the sound of several gunshots on Thursday night.

Local fisherman Iqbal Majhi said that gunfire and explosions are often heard in the Rakhine border area, making it scary to go fishing in the Naf River and shrimp ponds.

Sirajul Mustafa Lalu, UP member of Ward 2 of Hoi Kyung Union, said that a series of explosions and gunshots have been heard since 10 am on Friday. Around 11 am, the sound of three to four powerful bomb explosions was heard.

He mentioned that several people have been injured on the other side of the border by gunfire from the Rakhine border before.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imamul Hafiz Nadim said residents of the border area have been asked to stay in safe places and inquiries are being made for the family of the injured jailer.

Meanwhile, 64 BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Zahirul Islam claimed that the fisherman who was shot had mistakenly crossed the border into Myanmar while fishing. It is believed that he was targeted by the gunfire from there.

He also said that intermittent gunfire has been heard in the Myanmar side since Friday morning and the BGB is on alert at the border.

It is believed that this situation in the border area has been created due to the ongoing conflict between junta forces and rebel groups inside Myanmar. This has caused extreme panic and insecurity among the border residents.