Fear grips Teknaf border as bullet, landmine injure civilians

“Fear intensifies as night falls. We are even afraid to let our children go outside. Unless lasting peace is restored along the border, this life of fear will not end,” said Nazrul Islam, a resident of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar, which borders Myanmar.

He is not alone. Many residents of the area are living in extreme fear, particularly at night. Although no sound of gunfire was heard along the border on Tuesday (January 13), the fear has not subsided.

Locals said that on Sunday (January 11), a bullet fired from Myanmar’s Rakhine State struck the head of a child, Huzaifa Sultana Afnan. She was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital in critical condition. On Monday (January 12), a young man lost a leg in a landmine explosion near the Whykong Lombabil border area.

In protest against these incidents, residents have been blocking roads and holding protest marches for the past two days in Whykong and nearby areas of Teknaf.

Ali Akbar, the uncle of the injured child Huzaifa Sultana, said, “My niece committed no crime. She is now fighting for her life after becoming a victim of border conflict. We want to ensure that no innocent child is shot like this again in the border area.”

According to family members, a bullet fired from the Myanmar side hit Huzaifa Sultana’s head on Sunday morning. She was first admitted to the ICU of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Her condition remains critical, and preparations are underway to transfer her to a specialised hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Fazlul Haque, father of Mohammad Hanif, who was injured in the landmine explosion, said, “Yesterday morning, my son was seriously injured when a landmine planted underground exploded near the Whykong Lombabil border close to Myanmar. His right ankle was completely severed, and his left leg was also injured. He is currently receiving treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.”

He added, “Moving around in the border area has now become a risk to life. We do not know where landmines have been planted.”

Abdul Karim, a resident of the Whykong border area, said, “The ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is directly affecting the Teknaf border. Even though gunfire has not been heard from across the border for several days, incidents of explosions and shootings have created deep fear among people.”

Saiful Islam Tutul, who took part in the road blockade and protests, said, “Our demand is that security along the border must be strengthened immediately. Planted landmines must be removed. The safety of lives and property of ordinary people must be ensured. Due to a lack of adequate surveillance, civilians in border areas are repeatedly becoming victims of violence.”

Whykong Union Parishad Acting Chairman Shah Jalal said, “For the past four to five days, gunfire and instability in Rakhine across the border have created extreme fear among people living in border areas on this side. Even now, locals are afraid to go to shrimp enclosures adjacent to the embankment near the border.”

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Inamul Hafiz Nadim said, “On behalf of the district administration, financial assistance will be provided to the families of the bullet-hit child Huzaifa Sultana and the youth injured in the landmine explosion. We hope to hand over the cheques to their families on Wednesday (January 14).”

He added, “Union Parishad chairmen and members have been instructed to carry out awareness campaigns to prevent panic. The police have also been informed, and we are maintaining round-the-clock communication with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) regarding the border situation.”