Four explosions inside Myanmar were heard across Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in Cox’s Bazar and Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban around 1:36am on Friday night.
The sounds caused houses on Bangladeshi side of the border to shake, prompting residents to leave their homes for safer locations. Following the incident, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was placed on alert along the border.
According to local residents, the explosion sounds were heard across multiple border locations, including Ulubuniya, Hwaykyang, and Hnila in Teknaf upazila; Anjumanpara, Nolboniya, Rohomoter Bill, and Dhamonkhali in Ukhiya upazila; and Ghumdhum, Tumbru, Jolpaitoli, Acharboniya, and Chakmapara in Naikhongchhari upazila.
Abu Rashed, a resident of Hnila Maulvipara, said he was woken during the night by a sound as houses and the ground shook, though he could not identify the cause.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Zohirul Islam, commanding officer of Ukhiya-64 BGB Battalion, told TIMES that a bomb explosion was heard inside Myanmar within the area of responsibility of Kharangkhali border outpost.
According to BGB, the explosion occurred at Trimukhi Mohona in Pramachongwa area inside Myanmar, approximately 500 metres north-east of BRM-15 of Kharangkhali border outpost, about 2.5 kilometres north-east of the outpost, and roughly 500 yards inside Myanmar from the zero line.
Mehdi Hasan Avi, a resident of Hnila Shalbagan Nayapara, said that gunfire from across the border had been heard for a long time, adding that explosion sounds create fear among residents staying indoors at night.
BGB suspects Arakan Army may have triggered the explosion to establish dominance in Rakhine State. No casualties have been reported so far, and the BGB is maintaining an alert posture while monitoring the border situation.
Earlier this year, on 10 August after 10pm, repeated gunfire was heard across Hnila border in Teknaf. Conflict inside Myanmar continues to maintain anxiety among Bangladeshi border residents.
Bangladesh shares a 271-kilometre border with Myanmar, including approximately 174 kilometres extending from border pillar no. 62 in Naikhongchhari under Ramu Sector in Cox’s Bazar to Saint Martin’s.
Clashes between Myanmar’s junta forces and Arakan Army began in November 2023. On 8 December 2024, Arakan Army claimed control of Maungdaw town and approximately 271 kilometres of Rakhine State border area.
Security concerns have remained heightened as gunfire, mortar shells, and explosion sounds inside Myanmar repeatedly reach Bangladeshi border areas, with stray bullets crossing the border and causing casualties among residents.
