Residents along the borders of Naikhongchhari in Bandarban district and Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar spent the night in extreme fear as the sound of intense gunfire from inside Myanmar was heard again.
Locals reported that the intermittent bursts of firing began after 11:00 PM on Thursday (October 9) and continued until the early hours of Friday.
Border Residents Spend Night in Panic
According to local sources, people living in the border areas, including Ghumdhum Union in Naikhongchhari, Thaingkhali, Dhamankhali, and Rohomoter Bil zero-point in Ukhiya, and the Hoaikyong border area in Teknaf, passed the entire night gripped by fear due to the relentless sound of shelling and gunfire.
Although the clashes are occurring in Myanmar's Rakhine State, the proximity of the border means the sounds of the conflict are clearly audible on the Bangladesh side. Local women, men, and children were reportedly too terrified to leave their homes.
Security Forces Maintain High Alert
Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin, Commanding Officer of BGB Ukhiya 64 Battalion, stated that clashes between various armed groups within Myanmar have been ongoing for a long time. He assured that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is fully prepared to handle any situation at the border and advised locals not to panic.
Lieutenant Colonel Ashiqur Rahman, Commanding Officer of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), echoed this, saying the fighting between armed groups inside Myanmar is entirely an internal matter for that country. He confirmed that the BGB remains on high alert, regular patrols have been intensified, and forces are always ready to address any scenario.
A media official for the Bangladesh Coast Guard’s East Zone reported that Coast Guard personnel have also intensified their regular patrols on the Naf River and in the Bay of Bengal, and are prepared to deal with any situation.
Patrols by the Coast Guard have been ramped up along the 66-kilometer-long Naf River that separates the two countries. Additionally, the personnel of BGB Ukhiya 64 and Teknaf 2 Border Guard Battalions are maintaining a vigilant position along the river and the border areas.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Jasim Uddin of the Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB) said, "We are observing the situation while maintaining a cautious stance, and the situation is currently normal. The sound of firing has been heard from inside Myanmar, across the border near the Balukhali BOP [Border Observation Post]. Our patrolling has been stepped up."
Regarding reports of injured Rohingya, he clarified that there has been no information about any bullets landing inside Bangladesh, adding that the incident is far from the Camp No. 12 border area.
Background of the Conflict
The intensified armed resistance against the junta government in Myanmar began in October 2023. Continuing this struggle, the Arakan Army claimed on December 8, 2024, that it had established control over a large part of Rakhine State, including the border town of Maungdaw and approximately 271 kilometers of the border area adjacent to Bangladesh.
Since then, the conflict between the Arakan Army, the Arsa, and other groups in Rakhine State has intensified, with the impact being felt along the Bangladesh border.
