Residents near the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar are living in fear as clashes erupt across the border in Rakhine, Myanmar, involving the Rohingya armed group, the Arakan Army, and the Myanmar military. Gunfire and drone attacks have created a tense environment, with some stray bullets reportedly crossing into Bangladeshi territory.
The clashes, ongoing since Saturday evening (January 10) until Sunday morning (January 11), occurred near the Whykong Union border area in Teknaf. Continuous explosions and hundreds of rounds of gunfire have left local residents panicked.
Local resident Rafiq said that heavy gunfire continued into Sunday morning, with a bullet landing near his feet. Alamgir Hossain said families stayed awake all night as explosions shook homes, leaving women and children in tears.
Md Syed Hossain described the situation near Whykong Union as “horrific,” with residents feeling unsafe and afraid to leave their homes.
Sirajul Mostafa Lalu, a member of Whykong Union Parishad, said cross-border shelling and gunfire have continued day and night for the past three days. “From Saturday evening to early Sunday, hundreds of rounds of bullets and continuous explosions disrupted normal life. Stray bullets have landed in shrimp farms and agricultural fields,” he added.
A Rohingya man, Arman, who fled from Rakhine on Sunday morning, said clashes between the Rohingya armed group and the Arakan Army have intensified, with occasional attacks from the Myanmar military. “I had to leave as I could not stay there any longer,” he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Zahirul Islam, commanding officer of Ukhiya Battalion 64 of the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB), confirmed that the force is monitoring the cross-border gunfire.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Inamul Hafiz Nadim said the local administration is in regular contact with the BGB and has advised residents in border areas to stay safe and cautious. Awareness efforts are ongoing to keep the public informed about the situation.