Dhaka Tribune, Publish : 02 Mar 2024, 02:35 PM

Heavy shelling was reported from Myanmar across the NafRiver at the Teknaf border in Cox's Bazar, with black smoke enveloping thearea.

The terrifying sound of mortar shells has been heard from Myanmar sinceSaturday morning, causing fear among the approximately 10,000 people livingnear the border.

Rashed Mohammad Ali, chairman of Teknaf's Hnila Union Parishad, said:"Since morning, I have been hearing the sound of heavy mortar shells fromMyanmar on the other side. Fishermen and farmers spend their days in fear atthe border with the sound of mortar shells. Apart from this, the black smoke ofthe fire is also seen there since morning. We are looking for people at theborder.”

It is reported that the armed group Arakan Army is clashing with militaryforces in villages in Myanmar east of Huaikong and Hnila border.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard have increased patrollingin the Naf River in the 54km area from Huaikong of Teknaf upazila to Shahpariisland of that border.

Ilias, a resident of Hnila border, said: "Heavy gunfire has been heardfrom Myanmar since morning. We are in fear now.”

Tarek Mahmud Roni, president of Hnila Adarsh Government Primary School,mentioned hearing horrible noises in the morning, comparing them to the soundof a bomb falling next to the house.

Delwar Hossain of Huaikong said: "There is a loud sound of gunfire on theother side of the border from Friday night till 11am on Saturday."

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Adnan Chowdhury said: “Due to theongoing conflict inside Myanmar, the border is being constantly monitored. Dueto the situation on the other side, the BGB, Coast Guard, and police haveincreased their patrolling, and the people living on the border have been askedto be careful.”

Meanwhile, Rohingya individuals are attempting to infiltrate from Myanmar.Four hundred Rohingyas were recently sent back by BGB-Coast Guard personnelduring an attempted infiltration through the Naf River border.

Lieutenant Tahsin Rahman, the media officer of Coast Guard Chittagong EastZone, said, "We (Coast Guard) have strengthened the patrol in the NafRiver due to the possibility of border infiltration through the Naf River inthe ongoing war on the other side. No new entry will be allowed. We havealready resisted more than 200 Rohingya infiltrators.”

Photo: Daily Bangladesh com