Bandarban Correspondent: For more than a week, the people living in the Ghumdhum border area of Naikxyongchari Upazila in Bandarban have spent their days and nights in extreme anxiety. Inside Myanmar, the Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group, is fighting with the country’s government forces (BGP). Because of this, the villages in Bangladesh near the border are shaking with the sound of explosions, along with continuous shooting and mortar shell throwing at the Myanmar border camp.
The war between the two sides has now become so pronounced that its effects have crossed the border of Myanmar and are reaching inside Bangladesh. In this situation, the people in the dangerous areas of the border are being evacuated to safety, fearing that the situation on the Naikshyongchari Ghumdhum-Tumburu border may worsen.
Gunshots and explosions are still heard in the border areas. Shelters have already been opened to evacuate people from the risky areas. Besides, the administration has continued to raise awareness.
Bandarban District Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin and District Police Superintendent Saikat Shaheen visited the border area on Tuesday (February 6) to monitor the situation.
After monitoring the border situation, Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin said, “We are in zero tolerance; Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other forces are on alert to prevent any intrusion at the border.” Everyone has already been told to move to safe shelters.
Regarding the border, District Superintendent of Police Saikat Shaheen said that Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) members are already in the custody of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the border. District administration and all law enforcement agencies are working together. Manpower and intelligence surveillance have already been increased to prevent infiltration at the border.
He said that all assistance would be given to take the local people to safe shelter.
Meanwhile, North Ghumdhum Government High School No. 1 of Ward No. 7 of Ghumdhum Union has been declared a shelter. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin has ordered the residents of the border area to evacuate by Tuesday afternoon.
However, a UP member of Ward No. 5 said that the UP Chairman is giving money for the car rental of those who cannot afford to go to the shelter camp. Anwar Hossain.
Meanwhile, 20 families from Ghumdhum Union Ward No. 1, 2, and 3 outposts from Tanchangya Para, 30 families from Bhajabaniya Tanchangya Para, 30 families from Tumbru Konar Para, 20 families from Ghumdhum Purva Para, and 10 families from Tumbru Hindu Para are in neighboring Cox’s Bazar. It is said that they have taken shelter in relatives’ houses in various areas, including Ukhia, Morichya, and Kot Bari, since last Monday.
Due to ongoing unrest in the Ghumdhum border area, five government primary schools on the border of Ghumdhum Union have been declared closed, considering the safety of teachers and students. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has ordered that educational institutions remain closed until further orders.
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, mortar shells fired from Myanmar fell near the house of Madhyampara freedom fighter Nurul Islam of the Ghumdhum Union. Some parts of the windows of Syed Noor Sikdar’s house were broken. UP member Dil Mohammad Bhutto said that there were no casualties.
On the other hand, on the same day, a man named Syed Alam (35) was injured by bullets fired from Myanmar on his way to the shelter.
Incidentally, two people, including a Bangladeshi, were killed by a mortar shell fired from Myanmar in Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum Union on Monday. Since then, there has been panic among the locals. People have started leaving the village and moving to safer places.
Due to the ongoing conflict inside Myanmar, so far, 264 members of the Border Guard Police (BGP) have fled to Bangladesh with weapons, confirmed the public relations officer of the BGB. Shariful Islam
Chairman of Ghumdhum UP, AKM Jahangir Aziz, said that the locals are in fear due to the shelling across the border for several days.
In such a situation, apart from members of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) and members of the country’s army, injured ordinary citizens are fleeing. However, BGB is said to be on alert to prevent border infiltration.
