Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: In the clash between the Arakan Army and rebel groups in Myanmar’s Rakhine, the Teknaf Municipality of Cox’s Bazar and neighboring border areas, including Shahpari Island, are shaking with the sound of heavy weapons, mortar shells, and gunfire. Local residents are in fear.
From Saturday (July 13) evening to Sunday (July 14) morning, noises from Myanmar are heard in different areas. But the locals said that the sound of gunfire is louder than before.
Many reported seeing sparks and smoke in the Sudapara village of Maungdoo, Myanmar, on the opposite side of the Shahpari island border.
Abdus Salam, a member of Ward No. 9 of Sabrang UP, said that after being closed for a few days, a loud explosion was heard again from inside Myanmar. On Saturday night, many people on the border spent a sleepless night in fear.
He also said that houses and buildings around Jaliyapara, Paschim Para, Uttar Para, and Acharbaniya, along with the Jetighat area of Shahpari near the border, were shaken.
Fariha Yasmin, a reserved member of Ward Nos. 7, 8, and 9 of Sabrang Union Parishad, said that on Saturday night and Sunday morning, loud explosions started coming from the side of Myanmar in the neighboring border areas, including Shahpari Island in Teknaf. There is panic among the locals living along the border. But this time, the noise of the explosion was bigger than before.
Sabrang Union Parishad Chairman Nur Hossain said Teknaf is on one side of the Naf River and Mangdu Township is on the opposite side. The Naf River, which is only four kilometers wide in the middle, divides the two countries. In Myanmar, the surrounding villages of Maungdu Township, Perangpuru, Kadirbil, Haripara, Mangnipara, Nalbaiinnya, Sudapara, Sikdarpara, Nurullapara, Hasyurata, and Phatangcha are known to be the most frequent areas of shooting. What is happening in the villages can be witnessed from here. When there are shots, the people nearby can easily hear the loud noise.
This public representative said that after being closed for some time, the loud sound of an explosion suddenly started coming from the border area again. In this situation, the anxiety of the border people has increased. The concerned have been informed in this regard.
Teknaf-2 BGB battalion captain Lt. Col. Mohiuddin Ahmed said that BGB is on maximum alert so that no one can infiltrate through the border under any circumstances.
