Border tension grows amid bombs, gunfire, landmines and armed group infiltration

Growing insecurity along the Teknaf border has heightened anxiety among local residents following cross-border gunfire, landmine explosions, and the infiltration of armed Rohingya group members, amid ongoing fighting inside Myanmar's Rakhine State.

The situation has worsened as four more members of an armed Rohingya group crossed into Bangladesh, taking the total number of such entrants to 57, according to police.

Additional Superintendent of Police Alok Biswas, media focal point of Cox's Bazar district police, said all 57 individuals were in the custody of Teknaf police station as of today evening.

He said 53 members crossed the border yesterday (11 January), followed by four more this morning (12 January). One of them was injured and is receiving medical treatment.

A case is being prepared by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in connection with the incident, he said, adding that further legal action will be taken once the case is filed.

Youth loses leg in landmine blast

A young fisherman lost his left leg in a landmine explosion inside Bangladesh territory along the Whykong border in Teknaf at around 10am today (12 January).

The incident occurred in the Naf River area between Shahjahaner Dwip and Hansher Dwip, near the Lambabil border under Hwykong Union.

The injured man, Abu Hanif, 22, son of Fazal Karim of Lambabil area, works as a fisherman.

According to his father, Hanif had gone to Shahjahaner Dwip in the Bangladesh portion of the Naf River to set fishing nets when a sudden explosion occurred as he stepped onto land.

"The blast severed his left leg from the ankle and injured his right leg," Fazal Karim said, alleging that the explosion was caused by a landmine planted by the Arakan Army.

Locals rescued Hanif and first took him to the MSF hospital in Kutupalong, from where he was referred to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital. He was later shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for advanced treatment.

Shot child remains critical

A Bangladeshi child who was shot by a bullet fired from Myanmar yesterday morning (11 January) in the Whykong border area remains in critical condition.

The child, Afnan Ara, 12, is currently being treated at the ICU of Chattogram Mediacal College Hospita (CMCH), where she has been kept on life support, hospital authorities said.

CMCH Director Brigadier General Taslim Uddin said the child underwent surgery last night, but the bullet lodged in her head could not be removed due to the risk of fatal bleeding.

"She is on ventilator support. The positive sign is that her physical condition has slightly improved since yesterday," he said this afternoon (12 January).

Afnan Ara, daughter of Jasim Uddin of Techchi Bridge village, was injured around 10:30am yesterday (11 January) in the Techchi Bridge area of Whykong Union. Another person was also injured in the same incident.

Initial reports had claimed the child died, but it was later confirmed that she was alive and was transferred to CMCH on Sunday afternoon.

Border residents form human chain

Amid fears triggered by cross-border gunfire, landmine explosions and armed group infiltration, residents of Teknaf staged a human chain today (12 January).

The demonstration was held around 11am on the Teknaf–Cox's Bazar highway at Techchi Bridge in Whykong, with people from various professions joining.

Participants strongly condemned what they described as indiscriminate firing from across the border and demanded an immediate halt to such attacks.

Addressing the gathering, Md Alam said a bullet hitting an innocent schoolgirl from across the border was a "gross violation of humanity" and international law.

Another speaker, Ali Hossain, said people living in border areas were spending their days in constant fear, with women and children facing the greatest risk. He called for urgent diplomatic steps to ensure lasting peace along the border.

Speakers also urged the government to ensure advanced treatment for the injured child and to take effective measures so that no innocent civilian is harmed in the future. They called on the United Nations and the international community to apply pressure to prevent Myanmar's internal conflict from spilling into Bangladesh.

Afnan Ara's father Jasim Uddin said his daughter was shot in the head while going out to play and remains in ICU at CMCH. He sought proper treatment and government support for her recovery.

Attempts to contact BGB officials deployed at the border were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.

Local residents said Myanmar's military has been carrying out air and drone strikes around Arakan Army positions, while armed Rohingya groups are also engaged in ground fighting, further worsening instability along the border.