A fire has broken out at the Leda Rohingya Camp (Camp No. 24) in Teknaf Upazila, Cox's Bazar. The blaze reportedly started around 10:00 PM on Sunday in a shed within Block F of the camp. Within moments, the fire spread throughout the block and quickly grew out of control. Two units from the Teknaf and Ukhiya Fire Service are currently working to bring the flames under control. Additionally, members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) stationed at the camp, army personnel, camp volunteers, and local Bangladeshis are working together to extinguish the fire. Local Rohingya witnesses reported that after the fire ignited in a single shed at 10:00 PM, it rapidly jumped to neighboring structures. Initial attempts by camp volunteers and security forces to contain the fire were unsuccessful. Fire service units from Teknaf and Ukhiya arrived shortly after to take over the operation. According to camp sources, the fire was still not completely under control an hour after the incident began. As of now, there is no immediate information regarding casualties or the total extent of the damage.

Residents along the Ukhiya and Teknaf borders spent a sleepless night in fear as thunderous sounds of airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling echoed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Sirajul Mostafa Lalu, a member of Ward 2 of Huaikyang Union Parishad, confirmed the situation to the media on Sunday (December 28) morning, reporting that the intensity of the blasts was unlike anything heard in recent times. Midnight Terrors at the Border According to local residents, the heavy shelling began around midnight on Saturday and continued intermittently until 2:00 AM. Read More Myanmar Begins Voting for First Time in Five Years Under Military Rule The explosions were so powerful that doors and windows of houses on the Bangladesh side rattled violently. The most affected areas include: Ukhiya: Palongkhali and Rajapalong Unions. Teknaf: Border villages within Huaikyang Union. Conflict Near the "Zero Line" Sources indicate that the blasts are part of the ongoing fierce conflict between the rebel Arakan Army and the Myanmar Junta forces. The strikes reportedly took place in the Balibazar area, approximately 13 kilometers inside Myanmar territory from the "Zero Line" and 15 kilometers southeast of border pillar BRM-18. "Suddenly, massive explosion sounds began at night," said UP Member Sirajul Mostafa Lalu. "People from the border areas were calling me repeatedly out of fear. We have advised everyone to remain alert." Official Response Lieutenant Colonel Jashim Uddin, Commander of the 64 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Ukhiya Battalion, addressed the concerns, stating that while the explosions were audible near the Huaikyang BOP (Border Outpost), they occurred strictly within Myanmar's borders. The BGB remains on high alert to prevent any spillover effects or illegal crossings resulting from the intensified fighting across the frontier.

A devastating fire erupted on a passenger ship named The Atlantic Cruise on the Bankkhali River near the BIWTA terminal in Nuniyachhara on Saturday morning. One crew member was killed, while 15 others, including crew and staff, were rescued alive. The fire broke out around 7:00 AM on December 27 as the vessel was preparing to dock to pick up passengers for a trip to Saint Martin. Casualty and Rescue Operations The deceased, identified as 35-year-old Nur Kamal, was an employee of the vessel. According to reports, he was asleep in a cabin when the fire started. Local residents using trawlers and speedboats rushed to the scene as the ship blazed at the river estuary, successfully rescuing 15 people on board. Fire service units and the Coast Guard reached the site shortly after. "We have recovered the charred body of an employee who was asleep in a room," said Sayed Muhammad Morshed Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of Cox'S Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defense. "We are searching to ensure no one else is trapped. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined." Impact on Tourism The incident occurred just before nearly 200 tourists were set to board. Hossein Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Owners Association, noted the narrow escape for travelers: "194 tourists were scheduled to travel to Saint Martin on this ship today.  Read More Massive Fire Breaks Out on Saint Martin-Bound Ship Fortunately, they had not yet boarded and were waiting at the terminal." Some of the stranded tourists were accommodated on other vessels based on capacity, while the remainder are scheduled to depart tomorrow. Investigation Launched Authorities have initiated a formal inquiry into the disaster. Following an on-site inspection, Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. A. Mannan announced the formation of a five-member committee to investigate the cause of the fire. A meeting with ship owners is also scheduled for this afternoon. "We are investigating whether the fire was caused by a mechanical fault or other factors," added Tanjila Tasnim, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate. Vessel operations between Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin had recently resumed on December 1, with six ships authorized to carry a maximum of 2,000 tourists daily under strict safety guidelines.

At least 10 people were injured in a collision between a passenger bus and a truck on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway during the early hours of Saturday. Fire service officials reported that two of the injured are in critical condition. The accident occurred around 1:00 AM on Friday night (December 27) near the Chonbari bus stand area of the highway. Upon receiving the news, members of the Shreenagar Fire Service rushed to the scene to conduct rescue operations. The injured passengers were initially taken to the Shreenagar Upazila Health Complex. Due to their deteriorating conditions, two victims were immediately transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for advanced treatment. Highway Police and the Fire Service have not yet been able to confirm the identities of the victims. Read More Massive Fire Breaks Out on Saint Martin-Bound Ship Shreenagar Fire Service Station Officer Dewan Azad told the media that a "Tungipara Express" passenger bus, heading from Gabtoli to Gopalganj, lost control due to heavy fog and rammed into the back of a truck parked on the Mawa-bound lane of the expressway. The accident disrupted traffic on the expressway for approximately one hour. Normal traffic flow resumed around 1:30 AM after Highway Police, with the assistance of the Fire Service, removed the damaged vehicles from the road. The bus involved in the accident has been seized, and legal proceedings are underway.

A devastating fire erupted on a Saint Martin-bound vessel named "The Atlantic Cruise" while stationed in the Bakkhali River, adjacent to the BIWTA terminal in Nuniyachhara. As of now, no casualties have been reported. The fire broke out at approximately 7:00 AM on Saturday (December 27). Confirming the incident to the media, Executive Magistrate and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanzila Tasnim stated that firefighting efforts are currently underway. She noted that while the vessel has sustained extensive damage, no tourists were on board at the time of the incident. Hossein Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOOAB), also confirmed the reports. Further details to follow...