Tekna, Jan 13 (V7N) — A landmine explosion occurred on Sunday morning, January 12, in the Shahjahan’s Island area near the Unchiprang border of Whaikyang union in Teknaf upazila, leaving a local fisherman critically injured.

The injured fisherman, identified as Hanif, was engaged in routine fishing activities in the border-adjacent area at the time of the incident, according to local residents. The explosion reportedly severed one of his legs.

Local sources said the blast is suspected to have been caused by a landmine planted along the border amid ongoing armed clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Fighting has been continuing between the Arakan Army and several Rohingya armed groups following the struggle for territorial control in the region. It is believed that mines laid during these conflicts may have triggered the explosion.

Following the incident, locals rescued Hanif and rushed him to the Teknaf Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, he was later referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment.

The explosion has spread panic among residents of the border area, who say security risks have increased significantly in recent months, making daily movement increasingly dangerous for civilians.

Whaikyang Union’s Acting Chairman Shah Jalal said he had learned that a fisherman was injured in a mine explosion in the morning. He added that vehicle movement on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway was temporarily suspended following the incident, but traffic resumed after about an hour.

Whaikyang Police Outpost In-Charge Khokon Chandra Dey confirmed that one fisherman was injured in the explosion. He said additional police personnel were deployed in the area to manage the situation and ensure security. District BNP President and former Member of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury also visited the site after being informed of the incident.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing dangers faced by civilians living and working along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border amid ongoing instability across the frontier.

END/SIC/SMA/