Teknaf, Oct 26 (V7N) — Tensions along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border escalated again on Saturday evening as stray gunfire from Myanmar struck civilian areas in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila.
According to local sources, the incident occurred around 5:00 p.m. in the Hwaikyang union’s Techchhi Bridge area when two rounds of bullets crossed the border, injuring a woman and damaging property. One bullet pierced the roof of a local computer shop, while another hit the tin shed of a nearby house.
The injured woman, identified as 27-year-old Chenwara Begum, sustained minor injuries after a bullet fragment struck her while she was inside her home. Locals rushed her to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, where she received first aid and was later released.
Eyewitnesses reported that sudden gunfire from the Myanmar side caused panic among residents. “We were preparing to close our shop when a bullet hit the roof. Everyone started running in fear. Later, we saw holes in the tin ceiling,” said a local businessman.
Another resident added that children began crying as gunfire echoed through the night. “We turned off all the lights and stayed indoors. We often hear sounds of fighting across the border, but this time, bullets actually reached our homes,” he said.
Following the incident, police from the Hwaikyang outpost visited the area to inspect the damage. Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zayed Noor confirmed that two bullet casings and marks of impact were recovered from the site. “Preliminary investigation suggests the bullets came from ongoing clashes between Myanmar’s military and armed groups. The situation remains calm, and security measures have been intensified,” he stated.
Sources from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Teknaf Battalion reported that heavy fighting has been taking place in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, particularly in Maungdaw and surrounding areas, between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. Sporadic gunfire from these confrontations has occasionally crossed into Bangladeshi territory in recent weeks.
BGB patrols have been reinforced, and local residents have been advised to avoid border-adjacent areas.
Meanwhile, fear and uncertainty continue to grip communities living near the frontier, including Hwaikyang, Ulubunia, the Naf River banks, and Techchhi. Local representatives reported that several families have moved to safer locations at night.
Hwaikyang Union Parishad Chairman Nur Ahmad Anwari told Voice7 News that residents hear sounds of conflict from Myanmar almost daily. “Border villagers are living in constant fear. The local administration has instructed everyone to remain cautious,” he said.
Security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely as Myanmar’s internal conflict intensifies near the Bangladesh border, posing growing concerns for civilian safety on both sides.
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