Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: 27 villages in the border upazila of Teknaf are shaken by the loud explosions due to the conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Locals said that the sound of this explosion is heard day and night. At the same time, coils of fire smoke can be seen in villages southwest of Maungdoo city in Rakhine State. All in all, the residents of the border areas are living an extremely uncomfortable life. According to the information given by the people and public representatives of the Teknaf border area, on the morning of June 18, the sound of mortar shells and powerful grenade explosions started coming from the other side. Which continues intermittently until the evening of June 22nd. Teknaf Upazila Municipalities, Teknaf Sadar, and Sabrang Union’s Naitongpara, Chowdhurypara, Aliabad, Kulalpara, Khankar Dale, Teknaf Sadar’s Deilpara, Nazirpara, Moulvipara, Sabrang Pancharipara, Sikdarpara, Mogpara, Acharbania, Jhinpara, Shahpari’s Dwip Jaliapara, Uttarpara, and at least 27 villages, including Mistripara, are shaking.
Shafiq Miah, a former public representative of the Sabrang area and local member Mohammad Sharif, said, “About 50 to 60 mortar shells were heard from Friday midnight to Saturday throughout the day. For more than a few months, the sound of such explosions has been heard on the border. Even though the incidents are in Myanmar, the sound of the explosion is shaking the country. So the people of the area are not able to sleep well. During the day, it is normal, but at night, people are afraid of the loud noise. People living on the border said Kadirbil, Mongnipara, and Sudapara villages of Mangdu Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar, are on the east side of the Naf River in Teknaf. People’s houses have been set on fire in all those areas. These houses were seen on fire. Most of the houses that were set on fire are owned by Rohingya citizens. There are reports that a significant number of Rohingyas are trying to escape to Bangladesh by crossing the Naf River. However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard forces are on alert at the border to prevent infiltration. Intelligence surveillance and patrols have increased.
Teknaf 2 BGB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Mohiuddin Ahmed said, “BGB is in a strict position at the Naf River and the border to prevent infiltration.” Besides, the Rakhine situation is being closely monitored.
Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer (UNO). Adnan Chowdhury said, “Though this is an internal matter in Myanmar, the people on the other side are not able to live in peace.”
