The threat of landmines planted by the Myanmar rebel group, the Arakan Army (AA), continues to haunt the frontiers as another Bangladeshi national lost a leg in an explosion at the Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban.
The victim, identified as Shafiul Alam, 35, son of Mohammad Kalu and a resident of the Reju Amtoli area in Ghumdum Union, was critically injured in the blast on Wednesday at approximately 3:30pm.
Local sources reported that the incident occurred in a hilly area near the border in Ward No 8 of Ghumdum Union while Shafiul was heading to a banana orchard for work. The force of the explosion severed one of his legs from his body and caused severe injuries to various other parts of his person.
Witnesses rushed to the scene upon hearing the sound of the blast and rescued the victim. He was initially taken to the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong, Ukhiya, in a bloodied state, before being transferred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced medical treatment.
According to Cox’s Bazar Battalion (34 BGB), the explosion took place approximately 400 metres inside Bangladeshi territory from border pillar 41, within the area under the jurisdiction of the Garjanbunia BOP.
Mohammad Mozammel Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Naikhongchhari Police Station, confirmed that they had received reports of the injury and that the relevant BGB authorities had been notified to investigate the matter.
Lieutenant Colonel SS Khairul Alam, commanding officer of 34 BGB, said the Bangladeshi national was seriously injured while working in the banana orchard and was subsequently moved from Kutupalong to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for better care.
The frequency of landmine and ordnance explosions along the Naikhongchhari border has escalated alarmingly in recent times, posing a constant risk to the livelihoods of local residents.
This latest incident follows a series of tragedies, on 9 June, a Rohingya camp resident named Abdul Khalek (30) was killed near pillar BRM-40. On 2 June, a 12-year-old boy, Satnaing Tanchangya, died in a mortar shell explosion near the Tuingajhiri border.
On 24 May, three Tanchangya citizens were killed in a landmine blast between pillars 41 and 42, an event that spread widespread panic across the border region.
