Teknaf, Ukhiya and the Ghumdhum border area of Naikhongchhari in Cox’s Bazar have been rattled by loud explosions and gunfire, triggering widespread panic among residents.
Bullets fired from the Myanmar side have pierced tin roofs of houses along the border and landed inside homes, while mortar shells have fallen into the Naf River, sending plumes of smoke into the air.
From dawn to morning on Saturday, intermittent gunfire continued for nearly four hours in the Hoikyang border area of Teknaf upazila.
Sirajul Mostafa Lalu, a Union Parishad member of Ward 2 of Hoikyang Union, said from early morning, repeated mortar shell explosions and gunfire shook houses across the entire Hoikyang border area, spreading fear among border residents.
He added that the mortar shells and gunfire were coming from inside Myanmar, across the Hoikyang border.
During the firing, several bullets struck the houses of Mohammad Hossain and Abdul Quddus near Hoikyang Bazar, as well as the home of Sarwar Alam in Balukhali village. In addition, a mortar shell fell into the Naf River near Uttar Para, creating a visible column of smoke.
Nurul Absar, son of Mohammad Hossain, whose house was hit by bullets, said that loud gunfire had been heard from across the Myanmar border since dawn.
“Suddenly, two bullets struck the tin roof of our house one after another. We were all terrified. Gunfire continued until around 8am. During the firing, the entire house was shaking,” he said.
Another victim, Sarwar Alam, said he took shelter inside the house with his children as soon as the gunfire began.
“We were trembling in fear because of the deafening sound of gunfire. At one point, a bullet pierced the tin roof and fell inside the house. When we later picked it up, it still felt hot,” he said.
Hoikyang police outpost in-charge SI Khokon Kanti Rudra said heavy gunfire sounds from the Myanmar side were heard from dawn until morning. Reports have been received of bullets hitting several houses, and higher authorities have been notified on the matter.
Palangkhali Union Parishad Chairman M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury of Ukhiya said that since the night of 11 December, gunfire has been continuing in Myanmar’s Rahmater Bil and Dhamankhali points along the border.
“We are receiving information that clashes are taking place between the rebel armed group Arakan Army and Rohingya armed groups. Border residents are living in fear,” he said.
Azizul Haque Rana, a journalist based in the Ghumdhum border area, said after a period of calm, intermittent gunfire and mortar shell explosions resumed on the Myanmar side of the border from the night of 11 December.
It is believed that clashes are taking place between Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA) and Rohingya armed groups.
Earlier, at around 6:30pm on 9 December, a bullet fired from the Myanmar side landed inside the bedroom of Shah Alam’s house in the Lambabil area of Hoikyang Union in Teknaf. Family members narrowly escaped a serious incident.
