A 12-year-old boy, Satnaing Tanchanga, was killed in a mortar shell explosion near the Bangladesh–Myanmar border in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari Upazila.
The incident occurred on Tuesday around midday in the Tuinghajiri area of Ghumdhum Union. He was the son of Kinghla Tanchangya of Baishphari Tanchangya Para.
According to local and border sources, while working in a hilly jhum field close to the international zero line under the jurisdiction of the Tuinghajiri Border Outpost (BOP) of the 34th BGB Battalion, Satnaing discovered an abandoned mortar shell buried in the ground. The shell exploded as he handled it, killing him instantly.
The incident took place near Border Pillar-39, slightly inside Myanmar territory. Locals recovered the boy’s body and brought it to Baishfari village, causing widespread panic in the border area.
Lieutenant Colonel S S Khairul Alam, commanding officer of the 34th BGB Battalion, said necessary measures had been taken following the incident. He confirmed that border patrols had been strengthened and urged people not to approach the zero line.
He also warned residents to avoid touching abandoned explosives or suspicious objects and to immediately report them to law enforcement authorities.
Naikhongchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mozammel Haque confirmed the incident, stating that the body had been recovered and arrangements were being made to send it to the district headquarters hospital for post-mortem examination.
