Teknaf, Aug 12 (V7N) — Intense gunfire was reported between two Rohingya armed groups in the Nakpura Island area across the border in Myanmar, triggering panic among residents in Bangladesh’s Teknaf border communities.
The clash continued intermittently for around four to five hours from Tuesday night, with residents of Hnila and nearby border areas reporting repeated sounds of gunfire and explosions.
Residents of Jelepara, near the Hnila border, said the sound of gunfire continued for several hours, causing fear and anxiety in communities close to the border. Some residents reportedly left their homes to monitor the situation amid concerns over their safety.
Local sources claimed the clash was between the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) and a group backed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), reportedly over control of Nakpura Island.
Tarek Mahmud Rony, president of the Green Environment Movement’s Teknaf upazila unit and a resident of the Hnila border area, said residents remained highly concerned due to the overnight gunfire.
He said frequent incidents of this nature were creating a growing sense of insecurity among people living in border areas, particularly in Jelepara and Godownpara.
Lt Col Zahirul Islam, commander of Border Guard Bangladesh’s (BGB) 64 Battalion in Ukhiya, said a boat attempted to enter Bangladeshi territory while the gunfire was taking place in the Nakpura Island area.
BGB personnel fired warning shots, prompting the boat to turn back, he said.
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